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 by contractor ETS.
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 (DCSF) 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 for their age, known as Level 4 - the benchmark that will be used in the school "league tables" at the end of the year.
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.
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.
The results also show the proportions achieving the next level - which are down 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.
The fall is most pronounced in English, with 29% reaching Level 5 compared with 34% last year. In maths it was from 32% to 31% and in science, from 47% down to 44%.
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 with marks 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 Level 4 by 1.2 percentage points in English, 0.2 points in maths and 0.5 points in science.
At Level 5 the effect is even more pronounced: about 2.9 percentage points in English, 0.4 in maths and 1.5 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.
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Annette Brooke said: "Yet again, ministers have failed to meet their own targets. Too many children will be starting secondary school without having a good grasp of the core 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 headed by Lord Sutherland.
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.
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.
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.
Marking quality
ETS said that 97.1% of primary schools now had "full and complete" results for all three subjects - so about 460 do not.
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.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said on Monday that eight schools did not have any results.
"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.
Schools Minister Jim Knight told reporters he was having discussions every day about the delays in returning results and scripts.
Marking quality
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.
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.
But the NASUWT teachers' union dismissed the complaints of "serial detractors".
The NASUWT teachers' union dismissed the complaints of "serial detractors".
General Secretary Chris Keates said the results showed "steady and sustained progress overall, reflecting the hard work of teachers and pupils".
General Secretary Chris Keates said the results showed "steady and sustained progress overall, reflecting the hard work of teachers and pupils".
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.
Mary Bousted of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers agreed about the reliability of the sample size at national level.
"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.
But she added: "This doesn't say much, however, as the reliability of the test results has always been too low to provide accurate comparisons between schools.
The results are subject to the outcome of the inquiry being conducted by Lord Sutherland into all the problems around marking this year.
"ATL therefore continues to campaign for the replacement of tests by teacher assessment which can provide a better picture of a young person's learning while reducing the relentless pressure of testing on students."
ETS Europe vice-president, Andy Latham, said: "ETS has consistently and fervently asserted that this year's marking is of equal or greater quality that in previous years."
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 marks? Do you trust the results? Should the government have published the national results? Send us your comments using the form below.
