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Estyn says reading and writing standards of children in Wales must improve | Estyn says reading and writing standards of children in Wales must improve |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Wales' schools inspection service has raised concerns about literacy levels, and says exam results are not improving as quickly as other parts of the UK. | Wales' schools inspection service has raised concerns about literacy levels, and says exam results are not improving as quickly as other parts of the UK. |
Estyn's annual report found 40% of pupils arrive at secondary school with reading ages below their actual age. | Estyn's annual report found 40% of pupils arrive at secondary school with reading ages below their actual age. |
But the under-sevens learn-through-play scheme the foundation phase won praise. | But the under-sevens learn-through-play scheme the foundation phase won praise. |
Estyn said there was a lot to be done to improve education generally, while the Welsh government said it showed where the sector must "raise its game". | Estyn said there was a lot to be done to improve education generally, while the Welsh government said it showed where the sector must "raise its game". |
Estyn's chief inspector Ann Keane said her organisation was concerned about the standard of reading and writing "in a significant minority of primary schools". | Estyn's chief inspector Ann Keane said her organisation was concerned about the standard of reading and writing "in a significant minority of primary schools". |
Her report said 20% of pupils arrived at secondary school with a reading age below nine years and six months - generally considered the level of functional literacy. | Her report said 20% of pupils arrived at secondary school with a reading age below nine years and six months - generally considered the level of functional literacy. |
Estyn warned those children do not always catch up. | Estyn warned those children do not always catch up. |
The best schools have a systematic approach to literacy in all subjects, but more commonly, improving literacy was not a central part of designing the curriculum, it found. | The best schools have a systematic approach to literacy in all subjects, but more commonly, improving literacy was not a central part of designing the curriculum, it found. |
The report adds: | The report adds: |
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Children were benefiting from outdoor lessons under the foundation phase, the report says. Boys in particular gained from being allowed to run, jump, explore and experiment. | Children were benefiting from outdoor lessons under the foundation phase, the report says. Boys in particular gained from being allowed to run, jump, explore and experiment. |
'Areas of concern' | |
Despite the positive findings on children's well-being and the foundation phase, "there remains much to be done to improve education more generally in Wales". | Despite the positive findings on children's well-being and the foundation phase, "there remains much to be done to improve education more generally in Wales". |
Even where a school is judged to be good overall, there are often lessons or departments where the quality of teaching is poor. | Even where a school is judged to be good overall, there are often lessons or departments where the quality of teaching is poor. |
Ms Keane welcomed improvements, but said there were still "several areas of concern," pointing to reading and writing skills and the "uneven quality of teaching and leadership". | Ms Keane welcomed improvements, but said there were still "several areas of concern," pointing to reading and writing skills and the "uneven quality of teaching and leadership". |
She said: "We have seen a drop in the proportion of 'excellent' or 'outstanding' teaching by comparison with the last cycle of inspections. | She said: "We have seen a drop in the proportion of 'excellent' or 'outstanding' teaching by comparison with the last cycle of inspections. |
"Schools need to do more to adapt their materials and teaching styles to meet the needs of learners of all abilities. | "Schools need to do more to adapt their materials and teaching styles to meet the needs of learners of all abilities. |
"Most classes are 'mixed ability' so it's very important to plan different approaches with different groups of pupils in these classes and to track the progress of individual pupils carefully." | "Most classes are 'mixed ability' so it's very important to plan different approaches with different groups of pupils in these classes and to track the progress of individual pupils carefully." |
The Welsh government said Education Minister Leighton Andrews had been absolutely clear that standards and performance in Wales, particularly in literacy in numeracy, needed to improve across the board. | The Welsh government said Education Minister Leighton Andrews had been absolutely clear that standards and performance in Wales, particularly in literacy in numeracy, needed to improve across the board. |
A spokesperson said his 20-point plan would put in place a range of positive measures to achieve this. | A spokesperson said his 20-point plan would put in place a range of positive measures to achieve this. |
'Root and branch review' | |
"We know that there is a lot of good practice that exists in education, and if we are to improve that needs to be shared at every level," said the spokesperson. | "We know that there is a lot of good practice that exists in education, and if we are to improve that needs to be shared at every level," said the spokesperson. |
"Consistency and high performance are essential in ensuring our young people benefit from the best standards of education in Wales." | "Consistency and high performance are essential in ensuring our young people benefit from the best standards of education in Wales." |
The spokesperson added: "We thank Estyn for their annual report which identifies where we have been successful and where the education sector in Wales needs to raise its game. | The spokesperson added: "We thank Estyn for their annual report which identifies where we have been successful and where the education sector in Wales needs to raise its game. |
"It's crucial if you're to improve you need to know how you are performing. We are strong believers that accountability is at the heart of improvement - it's certainly our message to the sector. | "It's crucial if you're to improve you need to know how you are performing. We are strong believers that accountability is at the heart of improvement - it's certainly our message to the sector. |
"We will now take time to consider the report in full and will provide our response in due course." | "We will now take time to consider the report in full and will provide our response in due course." |
Conservative Angela Burns said: "We already know Wales is at the bottom of the UK league table for literacy and numeracy and this report is worrying in its continued criticism of these areas. | |
"I welcome the conclusion that many schools are performing well however, and it is these that the minister should be using and learning from." | "I welcome the conclusion that many schools are performing well however, and it is these that the minister should be using and learning from." |
Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas called for a "root and branch" review of the education system. | |
"Instead of asking why a child is failing, we need to ask why the teaching method is failing the child," he said. | |
"Where this is happening we need to look at alternative teaching methods and that is why Plaid is proposing the introduction of techniques such as synthetic phonics." |