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| Fewer teens at literacy standard | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Fewer of England's 14-year-olds reached the expected literacy standard in tests last year, final figures confirm. | Fewer of England's 14-year-olds reached the expected literacy standard in tests last year, final figures confirm. |
| But the decline from 2005 was only half as bad as the provisional statistics issued last autumn had suggested. | But the decline from 2005 was only half as bad as the provisional statistics issued last autumn had suggested. |
| The government said 73% attained Level 5 in English, down from 74%. In maths it was 77%, up three percentage points, and in science 72%, up two points. | The government said 73% attained Level 5 in English, down from 74%. In maths it was 77%, up three percentage points, and in science 72%, up two points. |
| There were widely varying performances in different types of school, with academies doing the worst. | There were widely varying performances in different types of school, with academies doing the worst. |
| Gender gap | Gender gap |
| Pupils in city technology colleges did best, with 93% making the grade in English, for example, compared with 64% in academies and 74% in all state-maintained schools. | Pupils in city technology colleges did best, with 93% making the grade in English, for example, compared with 64% in academies and 74% in all state-maintained schools. |
| The averages mask a pronounced gender gap in English: with 65% of boys reaching national curriculum Level 5, as expected for their age, compared with 80% of girls. | The averages mask a pronounced gender gap in English: with 65% of boys reaching national curriculum Level 5, as expected for their age, compared with 80% of girls. |
| In science the gap was only two percentage points in girls' favour and in maths results were equal. | In science the gap was only two percentage points in girls' favour and in maths results were equal. |
| The percentage of students managing Level 5 in all three subjects was better than in the previous: 63% compared with 61%. | The percentage of students managing Level 5 in all three subjects was better than in the previous: 63% compared with 61%. |
| Schools minister Jim Knight hailed the improvements in science and maths, saying pupils, parents and teachers should be proud of their achievements. | |
| He pledged that more personalised learning would address the fact that girls are doing better than boys. | |
| The fact we are still concerned about the literacy levels of 14 year olds is a sad indictment of educational standards in this country Nick GibbShadow schools minister | |
| This was the case across the industrialised world, he said. | |
| "Internationally, teachers and educationalists are wrestling with it and the related societal issues. | |
| "There are no any easy, overnight solutions we can prescribe to address this. I am determined that we enthuse and engage boys in English but this is about taking a far broader approach in schools and government than simply using stereotyped 'fighting and football' texts," he added. | |
| Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said results in English had fallen at a time when a significant rise in basic skills was needed. | |
| "Level 5 is the minimum that 14 year olds need to be able to benefit from secondary education. | |
| "The fact that more than a quarter are not reaching this level is alarming, as is the fact that in 10% of secondary schools fewer than half the pupils are reaching this level. | |
| "A thorough grasp of reading and writing is essential for success in later life. The fact we are still concerned about the literacy levels of 14 year olds is a sad indictment of educational standards in this country," he added. | |
| The statistics, published by the Department for Education and Skills on Wednesday, are based on the results collated for the annual school-by-school Key Stage 3 performance tables, published on Thursday. |