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| Ofsted: Literacy progress has stalled, chief inspector says | Ofsted: Literacy progress has stalled, chief inspector says |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| England is being overtaken by other leading nations because progress on literacy has stalled, says chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw. | England is being overtaken by other leading nations because progress on literacy has stalled, says chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw. |
| Reading standards have not improved since 2005, he told BBC Two's Newsnight. | Reading standards have not improved since 2005, he told BBC Two's Newsnight. |
| Speaking ahead of a speech on Thursday, in which he will call for targets for 11-year-olds to be raised, he said: "Our standards should be higher." | Speaking ahead of a speech on Thursday, in which he will call for targets for 11-year-olds to be raised, he said: "Our standards should be higher." |
| Teaching unions say big improvements have been made in the past two decades. | Teaching unions say big improvements have been made in the past two decades. |
| They have accused Ofsted and the government of "playing fast and loose with international data". | They have accused Ofsted and the government of "playing fast and loose with international data". |
| Sir Michael, who took over the chief inspector's role in January, told Newsnight: "Standards in literacy and reading went up between 1995 and 2005. | Sir Michael, who took over the chief inspector's role in January, told Newsnight: "Standards in literacy and reading went up between 1995 and 2005. |
| Employment prospects | Employment prospects |
| "Since then standards have stalled and other nations have been doing better than us." | "Since then standards have stalled and other nations have been doing better than us." |
| The latest Programme for International Student Assessment survey, in 2009, showed the UK had slipped from 17th to 25th place in a global assesment of reading standards measured using a sample of 15-year-olds' test results. | The latest Programme for International Student Assessment survey, in 2009, showed the UK had slipped from 17th to 25th place in a global assesment of reading standards measured using a sample of 15-year-olds' test results. |
| Sir Michael said one in five children was not reaching the standard expected (level 4) at the end of primary school. | Sir Michael said one in five children was not reaching the standard expected (level 4) at the end of primary school. |
| "That means they can't access the curriculum in secondary school... and find it difficult to get jobs." | "That means they can't access the curriculum in secondary school... and find it difficult to get jobs." |
| Sir Michael says even those who do attain expected standards have no guarantee of going on to get a good GCSE pass in English. | Sir Michael says even those who do attain expected standards have no guarantee of going on to get a good GCSE pass in English. |
| He points out that nearly half (45%) of those who achieved the expected standard did not get at least a grade C in GCSE English. | He points out that nearly half (45%) of those who achieved the expected standard did not get at least a grade C in GCSE English. |
| In a speech in London, he will say: "There can be no more important subject than English. It is at the heart of our culture and literacy skills are crucial to pupils' learning for all subjects. Yet too many pupils fall behind in their literacy early on. | In a speech in London, he will say: "There can be no more important subject than English. It is at the heart of our culture and literacy skills are crucial to pupils' learning for all subjects. Yet too many pupils fall behind in their literacy early on. |
| "We are no longer a leading country in terms of our literacy performance: others are doing better." | "We are no longer a leading country in terms of our literacy performance: others are doing better." |
| The proportion of children achieving at least Level 4 in English has risen since 1995, when 49% made the grade. | The proportion of children achieving at least Level 4 in English has risen since 1995, when 49% made the grade. |
| Last year, 82% did so, up from 80% the previous year, which was the same as in 2007. | Last year, 82% did so, up from 80% the previous year, which was the same as in 2007. |
| Power over education is devolved around the UK and there is a drive to improve literacy in Wales also. | Power over education is devolved around the UK and there is a drive to improve literacy in Wales also. |
| The education inspection body Estyn's latest annual report said 40% of pupils could not read as well as they should be able to when they arrived at secondary school. | The education inspection body Estyn's latest annual report said 40% of pupils could not read as well as they should be able to when they arrived at secondary school. |
| The Welsh government has brought in a new five-year national literacy programme and compulsory reading tests are being introduced for five to 14-year-olds for the first time in May 2013. | The Welsh government has brought in a new five-year national literacy programme and compulsory reading tests are being introduced for five to 14-year-olds for the first time in May 2013. |
| In England, Sir Michael is to set out a 10-point plan to raise national standards in literacy on Thursday. | In England, Sir Michael is to set out a 10-point plan to raise national standards in literacy on Thursday. |
| Reading age | Reading age |
| He questions whether the present target for 11-year-olds does enough to prepare children properly for secondary school. | He questions whether the present target for 11-year-olds does enough to prepare children properly for secondary school. |
| He also says parents should be told their child's reading age as well as how they are doing against national targets. | He also says parents should be told their child's reading age as well as how they are doing against national targets. |
| Ofsted, he says, will focus "more sharply" on literacy in its inspections, and on phonics training for new teachers. | Ofsted, he says, will focus "more sharply" on literacy in its inspections, and on phonics training for new teachers. |
| The government believes a stronger emphasis on phonics will improve literacy levels. | The government believes a stronger emphasis on phonics will improve literacy levels. |
| This is a method of teaching children to read by teaching them the sounds of letters and groups of letters. | This is a method of teaching children to read by teaching them the sounds of letters and groups of letters. |
| From May, five and six-year-olds will be given a "phonics check", which the government says will help identify children who need extra help. | From May, five and six-year-olds will be given a "phonics check", which the government says will help identify children who need extra help. |
| Chris Keates, the general Secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said "the critical importance of pupils' educational achievement" was "beyond dispute". | Chris Keates, the general Secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said "the critical importance of pupils' educational achievement" was "beyond dispute". |
| But she said the proportion of children achieving the expected level at age 11 and at GCSE level had risen since the mid-1990s. | But she said the proportion of children achieving the expected level at age 11 and at GCSE level had risen since the mid-1990s. |
| "Ofsted is right to monitor provision in this vital subject," she said. | "Ofsted is right to monitor provision in this vital subject," she said. |
| "However, it is essential that it does so on an evidence basis, rather than picking and choosing information that seems to support a predetermined view." | "However, it is essential that it does so on an evidence basis, rather than picking and choosing information that seems to support a predetermined view." |
| Mary Bousted, from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said national tests were narrowing the curriculum. | Mary Bousted, from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said national tests were narrowing the curriculum. |
| "It may well be one of the major causes why children at primary school who've had an over-emphasis on test items, can't access the secondary curriculum." | "It may well be one of the major causes why children at primary school who've had an over-emphasis on test items, can't access the secondary curriculum." |