Yorkshire pupils bottom of class in new national test

Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show 69 per cent of 11-year-olds in Yorkshire reached the expected standard in the new test – lower than any other region in England.

A total of 17,043 children in the region did not show the ability expected from their age group. The tables also reveal that Yorkshire has the lowest level of pupils nationally who have mastered the basics in English and maths.

More than a quarter of 11-year-olds (28 per cent) in the region failed to get to the expected standard in reading, writing and maths tests and teacher assessments.

This was higher than any other region and compares with a national average of 24 per cent.

However, one Yorkshire council has claimed that the DfE has used the wrong figure.

Kirklees is listed as having 70 per cent of pupils making the grade in the three Rs. A council spokesman told the Yorkshire Post that the correct figure should be 73 per cent and added that the authority was in contact with the DfE to get this changed.

Nationally the figures show more children are reaching the standards expected of them in maths and writing but the number attaining the same level in reading has dropped.

The results of this year’s national curriculum tests – known as Sats – show a slight improvement overall, although almost one in four 11-year-olds are still failing to achieve the expected standard in the three Rs by the time they finish primary school.

The figures show that, overall, 76 per cent of pupils were awarded scores of level four or higher in all three subjects tested – reading, writing and maths. This is up one point from 75 per cent last year.

In total, 139,000 pupils failed to reach level four in reading, writing and maths, the DfE said.

Girls performed better than boys, with a fifth not reaching the expected level – nearly 55,000 girls overall – compared with almost a third – 85,000 – boys. More than half a million 11-year-olds sat the tests.

Education Minister Elizabeth Truss said: “Today’s figures show the majority of children are performing well and they, along with their parents and teachers, should be congratulated for their achievements.

“However, the statistics also reveal that one in four children is leaving primary school without a firm grasp of spelling, punctuation and grammar. The new test encourages schools to focus on these basics.”

The spelling, punctuation and grammar test includes questions asking pupils to insert missing full stops and capital letters, choose the correct preposition for a given sentence, and to spell words such as “physically”, “surprised” and “enough”.