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1 May 2008 : Column 698W—continued

Primary Education: Standards

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of children who completed Key Stage 2 with adequate levels of literacy and numeracy; and if he will make a statement. [201114]

Jim Knight: Levels of literacy and numeracy in primary school leavers are most commonly measured by the proportions of children gaining National Curriculum level 4 and above in English and mathematics, since these represent the expected national standard. Children who reach Level 3 of the National Curriculum are assessed as having effective skills in English and mathematics and can demonstrate a good standard of reading and mental addition and subtraction. They are able to read a range of texts accurately independently, tackle unfamiliar
1 May 2008 : Column 699W
words, discuss their mathematical work and begin to explain their thinking. Children achieving Level 4 have access to more complex forms of language and more complex ideas. They develop their own strategies for solving problems and are using these strategies both in working within mathematics and in applying mathematics to practical contexts.

Achievement of the target Level 4 provides children with a solid foundation in learning from which to access the full secondary curriculum—79 per cent. of pupils who achieved Level 4 (in a combination of English, Mathematics and Science) at Key Stage 2 in 2002 went on to get five or more good GCSEs in 2007.

The Department's new Public Service Agreements published as part of the Comprehensive Spending
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Review in October 2007 have a dual focus on ensuring that pupils reach the levels expected for their age in both English and mathematics (threshold targets) and improving the rates of progress made by pupils from ages 5-16 (new progression targets) with increased attention to achieving faster progress for underachieving groups such as children in care and minority ethnic pupils. The progression targets will be a major factor in helping all pupils—regardless of their background and circumstances—to realise their potential in English and mathematics in particular.

Information on the attainment of pupils in Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests since 1994-1995 is shown in the following table:

Pupil attainment in Key Stage 2 English tests:
	Percentage of pupils at each level
	A	T/D	B	N	W( 1)	1( 1)	2	3	4	5	6( 1)	Total	% at Level 3 or above	% at Level 4 or above
1995	4	0	—	0	0	1	7	39	41	7	0	100	88	49
1996	3	0	—	2	0	1	6	30	45	12	0	100	87	57
1997	3	0	4	2	—	—	1	26	48	16	0	100	89	63
1998	2	0	4	2	—	—	1	26	48	17	0	100	91	65
1999	2	0	3	2	—	—	1	20	48	22	0	100	91	71
2000	2	0	3	2	—	—	1	17	46	29	0	100	92	75
2001	1	1	3	2	—	—	1	17	46	29	0	100	92	75
2002	1	1	3	2	—	—	1	17	46	29	0	100	92	75
2003	1	1	3	2	—	—	1	16	48	27	—	100	91	75
2004	1	0	4	2	—	—	1	14	50	27	—	100	92	78
2005	1	0	4	2	—	—	1	14	52	27	—	100	93	79
2006	1	0	4	1	—	—	1	14	47	32	—	100	93	79
2007	1	0	4	1	1	—	1	13	47	34	—	100	93	80

Pupil attainment in Key Stage 2 Mathematics tests:
	Percentage of pupils at each level
	A	T/D	B	N	W( 1)	1( 1)	2	3	4	5	6( 1)	Total	% at Level 3 or above	% at Level 4 or above
1995	4	0		5	0	1	7	37	31	12	0	100	82	45
1996	3	0		2	0	1	5	34	40	1	0	100	88	54
1997	3	0	3	2	—	—	2	28	44	18	0	100	90	62
1998	2	0	3	3	—	—	1	31	42	17	0	100	90	59
1999	2	0	3	2	—	—	1	23	45	24	0	100	92	69
2000	2	0	3	2	—	—	1	21	47	24	0	100	93	72
2001	1	0	2	2	—	—	1	22	45	25	0	100	93	71
2002	1	1	2	2	—	—	1	20	46	27	0	100	93	73
2003	1	1	3	2	—	—	1	19	44	29	—	100	92	73
2004	1	0	3	2	—	—	1	19	43	31	—	100	93	74
2005	1	0	3	2	—	—	1	18	44	31	—	100	93	75
2006	1	0	3	2	—	—	1	17	43	33	—	100	93	76
2007	1	0	3	2	—	—	1	16	45	32	—	100	93	77
(1) Levels Wand 1 were valid in 1995 and 1996 only. Level 6 was valid from 1995 - 2002 only. A represents pupils who were absent. T represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test. D represents pupils disapplied from teacher assessment. B represents pupils who were assessed by teacher assessment only. N represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a Level. W represents pupils who are "working towards" Level 1 but have not yet achieved the standards needed for Level 1. Note: Data cover all schools entering pupils for KS2 tests.

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