There has been a slight improvement in children's attainment in English and maths tests in England's primary schools, provisional results show.
There has been a slight improvement in children's attainment in English and maths tests in England's primary schools, provisional results show.
The proportion reaching the expected standard in English was 81% compared with 80% last year.
The proportion reaching the expected standard in English was 81% compared with 80% last year.
In maths it was 78% against 77%, while the science score was unchanged on 88%.
In maths it was 78% against 77%, while the science score was unchanged on 88%.
Publication has been denounced by a head teachers' union because of the delays and controversy around this year's test marking.
Publication has been denounced by a head teachers' union because of the delays and controversy around this year's test marking by contractor ETS.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has said there is no evidence of problems with marking quality to require a delay in publication - and so has gone ahead with the scheduled release of the overall national results.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has said there is no evidence of problems with marking quality to require a delay in publication - and so has gone ahead with the scheduled release of the overall national results.
Missing papers
Missing papers
These show the proportion of pupils who have achieved the expected national curriculum level, known as Level 4.
These show the proportion of pupils who have achieved the expected national curriculum level, known as Level 4.
The government's target - first set in 2002 - had been for 85% of children to reach this level in English and the same in maths.
The government's target - first set in 2002 - had been for 85% of children to reach this level in English and the same in maths.
TEST MARKS NEEDED TO ATTAIN LEVEL 4 Writing: 25 marks out of 50 (50%)Reading: 18 marks out of 50 (36%)Maths: 45 marks out of 100 (45%)Science: 41 marks out of 80 (51%)
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) statisticians point out that comparisons with previous years are skewed by a change in the marking process this year.
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) statisticians point out that comparisons with previous years are skewed by a change in the marking process this year.
This involved removing the practice known as "borderlining", which involved double checking all the test scripts whose marks fell just below the benchmark level (but not above it), to see if they warranted any extra marks.
This involved removing the practice known as "borderlining", which involved double checking all the test scripts whose marks fell just below the benchmark level (but not above it), to see if they warranted any extra marks.
The effect is particularly significant in English, in which the marking is more subjective.
The effect is particularly significant in English, in which the marking is more subjective.
The statisticians say removing borderlining is estimated to reduce the percentage achieving the expected level by 1.2 percentage points in English, 0.2 points in maths and 0.5 points in science.
The statisticians say removing borderlining is estimated to reduce the percentage achieving the expected level by 1.2 percentage points in English, 0.2 points in maths and 0.5 points in science.
The figures show that the proportion of children attaining Level 4 in reading, writing, maths and science was 61%. So almost four in 10 children did not reach the expected level in all subjects.
The figures show that the proportion of children attaining Level 4 in reading, writing, maths and science was 61%. So almost four in 10 children did not reach the expected level in all subjects.
Overshadowed
Overshadowed
The results are being overshadowed by the ongoing problems with marking this year's Sats, which is being investigated by an independent inquiry.
The results are being overshadowed by the ongoing problems with marking this year's Sats, which is being investigated by an independent inquiry.
The National Association of Head Teachers has opposed the publication, arguing that there remain too many uncertainties about the extent of problems - either in terms of returning papers and the quality of marking.
TEST MARKS NEEDED TO ATTAIN LEVEL 4 Writing: 25 marks out of 50 (50%)Reading: 18 marks out of 50 (36%)Maths: 45 marks out of 100 (45%)Science: 41 marks out of 80 (51%) The latest figures for completed marking show that 98.8% of results for English, 99.2% for maths and 99.3% for science have been returned.
Heads have warned that as well as missing results there are other unresolved problems such as pupils wrongly marked as absent.
But the NASUWT teachers' union dismissed the complaints of "serial detractors".
General Secretary Chris Keates said the results were based on a statistically robust sample and showed "steady and sustained progress overall, reflecting the hard work of teachers and pupils".
The latest figures for completed marking show that 98.8% of results for English, 99.2% for maths and 99.3% for science have been returned.
However, the published results are based on an earlier release of data, on 15 July - so they comprise 94% of the English results and 97% of those for maths and science, the DCSF said.
However, the published results are based on an earlier release of data, on 15 July - so they comprise 94% of the English results and 97% of those for maths and science, the DCSF said.
Pressure on pupils
Marking quality
The test contractor, ETS, said on Tuesday that 97.1% of primary schools now had "full and complete" results for all three subjects.
ETS said on Tuesday that 97.1% of primary schools now had "full and complete" results for all three subjects.
Of the remainder, 2.8% had results in two subjects and 0.1% had only one subject's results.
Of the remainder, 2.8% had results in two subjects and 0.1% had only one subject's results.
Schools Minister Jim Knight told reporters he was in contact with the QCA every day about the delays in returning results and scripts.
"ETS has consistently and fervently asserted that this year's marking is of equal or greater quality that in previous years," said ETS Europe vice-president, Andy Latham.
"ETS has consistently and fervently asserted that this year's marking is of equal or greater quality that in previous years," said ETS Europe vice-president, Andy Latham.
A small survey from the think tank Civitas, published to coincide with the test results, suggested the pressure to get pupils through Sats tests distorts their use as objective ways of measuring ability.
The National Association of Head Teachers opposed publication, arguing that there remained too many uncertainties about the extent of problems - either in terms of returning papers or the quality of marking.
It said many secondary school teachers believed that the results inflated pupils' abilities.
But the NASUWT teachers' union dismissed the complaints of "serial detractors".
The claims were rejected by England's Department for Children, Schools and Families.
General Secretary Chris Keates said the results showed "steady and sustained progress overall, reflecting the hard work of teachers and pupils".
"Results have improved significantly since 1997 for both 11- and 14-year-olds and those results are in turn reflected in higher GCSE results," said a spokesman.
But John Bangs of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said: "I still can't understand why the results were published in the first place.
"The previous decision to remove borderlining, combined with ETS's incompetence, can only increase the size of the question mark over the results," he said.
The results are subject to the outcome of the inquiry being conducted by Lord Sutherland into all the problems around marking this year.
Is your child still waiting for their Sats results? Should the government have published the national results? Send us your comments using the form below.
Is your child still waiting for their Sats results? Should the government have published the national results? Send us your comments using the form below.
