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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Sats tests: Rise in maths and writing levels in England | Sats tests: Rise in maths and writing levels in England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More 11-year-olds are reaching the levels expected in maths and writing, but one in four still do not make the grade for each of England's Sats tests. | More 11-year-olds are reaching the levels expected in maths and writing, but one in four still do not make the grade for each of England's Sats tests. |
| National results released on Thursday show a slight improvement overall, but a small fall in the top grades awarded for reading. | National results released on Thursday show a slight improvement overall, but a small fall in the top grades awarded for reading. |
| Overall, 76% of pupils reached the expected level in each of the reading, writing and maths tests taken at 11 - up from 75% last year. | Overall, 76% of pupils reached the expected level in each of the reading, writing and maths tests taken at 11 - up from 75% last year. |
| There was a new test this year. | There was a new test this year. |
| This was in spelling, punctuation and grammar and 74% reached the expected level (Level 4) in that. | This was in spelling, punctuation and grammar and 74% reached the expected level (Level 4) in that. |
| In the reading test, 86% made the grade, down one percentage point from last year. | In the reading test, 86% made the grade, down one percentage point from last year. |
| And in writing - which is marked by teachers - there was a two percentage point rise to 83%. | And in writing - which is marked by teachers - there was a two percentage point rise to 83%. |
| In maths, there was a one percentage point rise to 85%. | In maths, there was a one percentage point rise to 85%. |
| Spelling tests | Spelling tests |
| Education minister Elizabeth Truss said: "Today's figures show the majority of children are performing well and they, along with their parents and teachers, should be congratulated for their achievements. | Education minister Elizabeth Truss said: "Today's figures show the majority of children are performing well and they, along with their parents and teachers, should be congratulated for their achievements. |
| "However, the statistics also reveal that one in four children is leaving primary school without a firm grasp of spelling, punctuation and grammar. | "However, the statistics also reveal that one in four children is leaving primary school without a firm grasp of spelling, punctuation and grammar. |
| "The new test encourages schools to focus on these basics." | "The new test encourages schools to focus on these basics." |
| The new spelling, punctuation and grammar test includes questions asking pupils to insert missing full stops and capital letters in sentences and to identify adverbs and different tenses. | The new spelling, punctuation and grammar test includes questions asking pupils to insert missing full stops and capital letters in sentences and to identify adverbs and different tenses. |
| Pupils were also asked to spell words such as "familiar", "physically", "surprised", "enough", "strength" and "substantial". | Pupils were also asked to spell words such as "familiar", "physically", "surprised", "enough", "strength" and "substantial". |
| In total, 139,000 pupils failed to reach Level 4 in the new test, the Department for Education said. | In total, 139,000 pupils failed to reach Level 4 in the new test, the Department for Education said. |
| Girls did better than boys, with 79% reaching the expected Level 4, compared with 69% of boys. | Girls did better than boys, with 79% reaching the expected Level 4, compared with 69% of boys. |
| Shadow education secretary, Labour MP Stephen Twigg, accused the Conservatives of "undermining a decade of progress" in literacy skills in primary schools. | |
| "David Cameron and Michael Gove are threatening school standards," he said. | |
| "We know how important reading skills are in later life, but these figures show how the Tories are failing thousands of children." |