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| New phonics test failed by four out of 10 pupils | New phonics test failed by four out of 10 pupils |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter | By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter |
| Fewer than six out of 10 pupils, 58%, passed the controversial new national phonics reading test in England, official statistics show. | Fewer than six out of 10 pupils, 58%, passed the controversial new national phonics reading test in England, official statistics show. |
| The test checks six-year-olds' ability to read aloud a mixture of 40 real and made-up words, sounding them out using the phonics system. | The test checks six-year-olds' ability to read aloud a mixture of 40 real and made-up words, sounding them out using the phonics system. |
| Ministers said the check had identified pupils who needed further help in learning to read. | Ministers said the check had identified pupils who needed further help in learning to read. |
| But teaching unions say it risks doing long-term damage to children's reading. | But teaching unions say it risks doing long-term damage to children's reading. |
| This is because it tests children's ability to decode words using a single method, phonics, rather than their ability to read itself. | This is because it tests children's ability to decode words using a single method, phonics, rather than their ability to read itself. |
| 'Waste of money' | 'Waste of money' |
| Some teachers have said bright pupils who use different methods of reading are trying to read the made-up words as real ones and being marked down for it. | Some teachers have said bright pupils who use different methods of reading are trying to read the made-up words as real ones and being marked down for it. |
| The official results show some 62% of girls passed the test compared with 54% of boys. | The official results show some 62% of girls passed the test compared with 54% of boys. |
| But only 44% of disadvantaged pupils, those eligible for free school meals, met the required standard of phonic decoding. This was 17 percentage points lower than all other pupils. | But only 44% of disadvantaged pupils, those eligible for free school meals, met the required standard of phonic decoding. This was 17 percentage points lower than all other pupils. |
| The phonics test is now taken by all pupils in Year 1 in English primary schools. The government introduced it to ensure schools were identifying pupils struggling with reading. | The phonics test is now taken by all pupils in Year 1 in English primary schools. The government introduced it to ensure schools were identifying pupils struggling with reading. |
| 'Nonsense' | 'Nonsense' |
| Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss said: "The reading check helps teachers identify those pupils who need extra help in learning to read. | Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss said: "The reading check helps teachers identify those pupils who need extra help in learning to read. |
| "Many thousands of children will now receive the extra support they need to develop a love of reading." | "Many thousands of children will now receive the extra support they need to develop a love of reading." |
| But Mary Bousted, head of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "Phonics tests waste time and money telling teachers what they already know about children's reading ability, as our joint survey with the NAHT [National Association of Head Teachers] and NUT [National Union of Teachers] showed. | But Mary Bousted, head of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "Phonics tests waste time and money telling teachers what they already know about children's reading ability, as our joint survey with the NAHT [National Association of Head Teachers] and NUT [National Union of Teachers] showed. |
| "If the government persists with phonics checks and its mistaken determination to make synthetic phonics the only method used to teach children to read, it risks doing long-term damage to children's reading." | "If the government persists with phonics checks and its mistaken determination to make synthetic phonics the only method used to teach children to read, it risks doing long-term damage to children's reading." |
| But the Department for Education (DfE) highlights evidence from an independent evaluation saying 43% of schools were able to identify pupils with reading problems of which they had been unaware. | But the Department for Education (DfE) highlights evidence from an independent evaluation saying 43% of schools were able to identify pupils with reading problems of which they had been unaware. |
| NUT head Christine Blower said the results reinforced the union's view that the top-down imposition of phonics across the board was the wrong approach. | NUT head Christine Blower said the results reinforced the union's view that the top-down imposition of phonics across the board was the wrong approach. |
| "Children have different learning styles and develop at different ages and stages, a fact that the phonics check does not recognise. | "Children have different learning styles and develop at different ages and stages, a fact that the phonics check does not recognise. |
| "Decoding using synthetic phonics can be a useful tool for teachers, but it is nonsense for it to be the basis of a blanket test. | "Decoding using synthetic phonics can be a useful tool for teachers, but it is nonsense for it to be the basis of a blanket test. |
| "Teachers need to be trusted and supported to develop a range of strategies for the teaching of reading. The aim is that all children learn to read for pleasure. A mechanistic approach will not guarantee that." | "Teachers need to be trusted and supported to develop a range of strategies for the teaching of reading. The aim is that all children learn to read for pleasure. A mechanistic approach will not guarantee that." |
| 'Three Rs' | |
| Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National of Association of Head Teachers, said there was considerable concern among members of the teaching profession about the phonics test. | |
| "The department is well aware that teachers fear this test is not only a waste of time but can be very damaging indeed for young learners. Far from being a 'light touch' form of assessment, the phonics test caused days of disruption in classrooms across England and immense distress to young children labelled failures. | |
| "It would be hard to find a school which does not already use phonics to help Key Stage 1 children learn to read. But they do so as part of a range of strategies designed to encourage and inspire young learners." | |
| The DfE has also published the results of teacher assessments of seven-year-olds in reading, writing, maths and science. | The DfE has also published the results of teacher assessments of seven-year-olds in reading, writing, maths and science. |
| Some 87% achieved the required national standard (Level 2) in reading, and 83% in writing - both up two percentage points on last year. | Some 87% achieved the required national standard (Level 2) in reading, and 83% in writing - both up two percentage points on last year. |
| In maths 91% reached the required level, and in science 89% did so. Both sets of results are up one percentage point on 2011. | In maths 91% reached the required level, and in science 89% did so. Both sets of results are up one percentage point on 2011. |