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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Primary tests results improving | Primary tests results improving |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Primary school national test results in England have shown a slight improvement in English, maths and science. | Primary school national test results in England have shown a slight improvement in English, maths and science. |
| In all subjects, based on "Sats" tests taken this year by 11 year olds, there was a rise of one percentage point. | In all subjects, based on "Sats" tests taken this year by 11 year olds, there was a rise of one percentage point. |
| There were 80% of pupils who reached the expected standard in English; 77% in maths and 88% in science. | There were 80% of pupils who reached the expected standard in English; 77% in maths and 88% in science. |
| Girls have once again achieved much better results than boys in English - with four in 10 boys failing to meet the expected level for writing. | Girls have once again achieved much better results than boys in English - with four in 10 boys failing to meet the expected level for writing. |
| The results, based on tests taken by 600,000 pupils, continue the picture of gradual improvement - with little change in the past three years. | The results, based on tests taken by 600,000 pupils, continue the picture of gradual improvement - with little change in the past three years. |
| Schools Minister Andrew Adonis, welcomed the "best set of Key Stage 2 results we have ever seen". | Schools Minister Andrew Adonis, welcomed the "best set of Key Stage 2 results we have ever seen". |
| Missed target | Missed target |
| But there had been targets set for last year for 85% of pupils to achieve the expected levels for both English and maths. | But there had been targets set for last year for 85% of pupils to achieve the expected levels for both English and maths. |
| Lord Adonis said he would make "no apologies for setting ambitious targets - they have been vital at driving improvements". | Lord Adonis said he would make "no apologies for setting ambitious targets - they have been vital at driving improvements". |
| From September, there will be an emphasis on using phonics to teach reading and more mental arithmetic, said Lord Adonis, "to accelerate the pace of learning". | From September, there will be an emphasis on using phonics to teach reading and more mental arithmetic, said Lord Adonis, "to accelerate the pace of learning". |
| The results once again show that boys are not achieving as well as girls at English. While 85% of girls reached the expected level, only 76% of boys reached this benchmark. | The results once again show that boys are not achieving as well as girls at English. While 85% of girls reached the expected level, only 76% of boys reached this benchmark. |
| For the writing component of the English test, the gap was even wider - with 75% of girls reaching the expected standard compared to only 60% of boys. | For the writing component of the English test, the gap was even wider - with 75% of girls reaching the expected standard compared to only 60% of boys. |
| In maths and science there is no significant gender gap - girls marginally ahead in science, boys marginally ahead in maths. | In maths and science there is no significant gender gap - girls marginally ahead in science, boys marginally ahead in maths. |
| High flyers | High flyers |
| The government says that the results show that there are now 100,000 more pupils achieving the expected standard for English compared to 1997. | The government says that the results show that there are now 100,000 more pupils achieving the expected standard for English compared to 1997. |
| But much of this improvement came in a surge in results in the late 1990s - followed by a much slower rate of progress. | But much of this improvement came in a surge in results in the late 1990s - followed by a much slower rate of progress. |
| The results also show the size of the gap between the very high achievers and those who are still struggling to make the grade. | The results also show the size of the gap between the very high achievers and those who are still struggling to make the grade. |
| There are now 33% of pupils who reach level 5 in English - a level higher than the expected benchmark of level 4. This is more than double the number who were at this higher level in 1997. | There are now 33% of pupils who reach level 5 in English - a level higher than the expected benchmark of level 4. This is more than double the number who were at this higher level in 1997. |
| Which means that there are 20% in the bottom group who are failing to reach the "expected" level 4 - and 33% at the top who have substantially exceeded expectations. | Which means that there are 20% in the bottom group who are failing to reach the "expected" level 4 - and 33% at the top who have substantially exceeded expectations. |
| 'Hot-house pressure' | 'Hot-house pressure' |
| The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said that the test results "conceal the downside of tests, targets and tables". | The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said that the test results "conceal the downside of tests, targets and tables". |
| "We surely must be able to come up with a better system than one which encourages the hot-house pressures of teaching to the test at the expense of the rest of the curriculum," he said. | "We surely must be able to come up with a better system than one which encourages the hot-house pressures of teaching to the test at the expense of the rest of the curriculum," he said. |
| Setting "unrealistic" targets only served to "feed the prejudices of those determined to find failure", said Mr Sinnott. | Setting "unrealistic" targets only served to "feed the prejudices of those determined to find failure", said Mr Sinnott. |
| Head teachers have called for a change of direction for tests and league tables - arguing that they "distort" the last year of primary school. | Head teachers have called for a change of direction for tests and league tables - arguing that they "distort" the last year of primary school. |
| "For some schools, particularly where they are struggling to raise standards, children do have their final year spoiled because they are spending so much time rehearsing the tests," said Mick Brookes of the National Association of Head Teachers. | "For some schools, particularly where they are struggling to raise standards, children do have their final year spoiled because they are spending so much time rehearsing the tests," said Mick Brookes of the National Association of Head Teachers. |
| Mr Brookes argues that assessments made by teachers should be used rather than tests. | Mr Brookes argues that assessments made by teachers should be used rather than tests. |
| The Conservatives' schools spokesman, Nick Gibb, challenged the claim that education was the passion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | The Conservatives' schools spokesman, Nick Gibb, challenged the claim that education was the passion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| "After 10 years of his being in government, two out of five 11 year olds are still leaving primary school without mastering the basics," said Mr Gibb. | |
| "It is vital that schools that are not achieving the full potential for their pupils look carefully at how they teach children to read in the reception class. We need to ensure that all schools are using the synthetic phonics method of teaching children to read." | "It is vital that schools that are not achieving the full potential for their pupils look carefully at how they teach children to read in the reception class. We need to ensure that all schools are using the synthetic phonics method of teaching children to read." |