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| Poor pupils narrow achievement gap, league tables show | Poor pupils narrow achievement gap, league tables show |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More disadvantaged pupils in England's primary schools are moving on to secondary school able to read, write and add up, official data shows. | More disadvantaged pupils in England's primary schools are moving on to secondary school able to read, write and add up, official data shows. |
| Two-thirds of pupils (67%) on free school meals gained a Level 4 in reading, writing and maths this year - up four percentage points on 2013. | Two-thirds of pupils (67%) on free school meals gained a Level 4 in reading, writing and maths this year - up four percentage points on 2013. |
| This compares with 83% for non-disadvantaged pupils, reducing the attainment gap to 16 percentage points. | This compares with 83% for non-disadvantaged pupils, reducing the attainment gap to 16 percentage points. |
| The data is based on tests taken by 11-year-olds in 16,000 schools. | The data is based on tests taken by 11-year-olds in 16,000 schools. |
| Schools Minister David Laws said it was "encouraging to see the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers continue to narrow and parents, teachers and pupils deserve to be congratulated for their efforts". | Schools Minister David Laws said it was "encouraging to see the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers continue to narrow and parents, teachers and pupils deserve to be congratulated for their efforts". |
| He added: "But we know there is more to do and there are still too many areas with simply unacceptable levels of attainment for disadvantaged pupils." | He added: "But we know there is more to do and there are still too many areas with simply unacceptable levels of attainment for disadvantaged pupils." |
| The achievement gap between poor pupils and their more advantaged peers has been a persistent problem in England's schools and the focus of extensive efforts by successive governments, teachers and educational programmes. | The achievement gap between poor pupils and their more advantaged peers has been a persistent problem in England's schools and the focus of extensive efforts by successive governments, teachers and educational programmes. |
| This year's jump continues the positive trend with the results of the poorest pupils up by six percentage points from 61% in 2012. | This year's jump continues the positive trend with the results of the poorest pupils up by six percentage points from 61% in 2012. |
| The overall results are also up, with 79% of all pupils in England's schools achieving Level 4 in the "three Rs" nationally - up from 75% last year. | The overall results are also up, with 79% of all pupils in England's schools achieving Level 4 in the "three Rs" nationally - up from 75% last year. |
| The Department for Education said this meant an extra 22,000 pupils had achieved the expected level compared with the previous year. | |
| The data also shows primary school results as a whole are improving, with the same percentage reaching new higher standards for whole school achievement. | The data also shows primary school results as a whole are improving, with the same percentage reaching new higher standards for whole school achievement. |
| According to the DfE figures, 768 schools failed to reach what is known as the floor target of 65% of pupils gaining at least Level 4 in formal reading and maths tests, combined with an informal teacher assessment of children's writing abilities. | According to the DfE figures, 768 schools failed to reach what is known as the floor target of 65% of pupils gaining at least Level 4 in formal reading and maths tests, combined with an informal teacher assessment of children's writing abilities. |
| In 2013, the floor target was 60%. The DfE said that if schools were judged against that standard this year, just 469 primary schools would not have met the standard. | In 2013, the floor target was 60%. The DfE said that if schools were judged against that standard this year, just 469 primary schools would not have met the standard. |
| Level 4 indicates children can spell, start to use grammatically complex sentences and use joined-up handwriting. | Level 4 indicates children can spell, start to use grammatically complex sentences and use joined-up handwriting. |
| In maths, they are able to multiply and divide whole numbers by 10 or 100 and use simple fractions and percentages, among other things. | In maths, they are able to multiply and divide whole numbers by 10 or 100 and use simple fractions and percentages, among other things. |
| A total of 693 schools saw all of their pupils achieve Level 4 or better in reading, writing and maths. | A total of 693 schools saw all of their pupils achieve Level 4 or better in reading, writing and maths. |
| The local authorities with the best results were Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, Trafford, Greater Manchester, and Sutton, Surrey, where 87% of pupils achieved Level 4 in all three areas. | The local authorities with the best results were Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, Trafford, Greater Manchester, and Sutton, Surrey, where 87% of pupils achieved Level 4 in all three areas. |
| Luton was the poorest-performing local authority with 70% of pupils meeting the expected target, followed by Rutland (71%) and Poole (72%). | Luton was the poorest-performing local authority with 70% of pupils meeting the expected target, followed by Rutland (71%) and Poole (72%). |
| For higher-achieving children, 29% of non-disadvantaged pupils achieved Level 5 (the expected standard for a 14-year-old). | For higher-achieving children, 29% of non-disadvantaged pupils achieved Level 5 (the expected standard for a 14-year-old). |
| This compares with 12% for children on free school meals. | This compares with 12% for children on free school meals. |
| 'Pleasing' | 'Pleasing' |
| Mr Laws highlighted the impact of the pupil premium on results. This is a mechanism for targeting schools with disadvantaged pupils with extra cash that started in 2011, with the amount rising steadily over the past three years. | Mr Laws highlighted the impact of the pupil premium on results. This is a mechanism for targeting schools with disadvantaged pupils with extra cash that started in 2011, with the amount rising steadily over the past three years. |
| He said: "We are committed to helping schools do more and have increased the pupil premium they receive per pupil to £1,300 so they have the resources they need." | He said: "We are committed to helping schools do more and have increased the pupil premium they receive per pupil to £1,300 so they have the resources they need." |
| National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby said: "Narrowing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has been an intractable problem. We've been working at this for years and we have struggled. | National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby said: "Narrowing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has been an intractable problem. We've been working at this for years and we have struggled. |
| "It is pleasing to see that this hard work is now coming through." | "It is pleasing to see that this hard work is now coming through." |
| He suggested the results were testament to some basic groundwork laid down in schools under previous administrations, but said the increased focus on the results of disadvantaged pupils had also had an impact. | He suggested the results were testament to some basic groundwork laid down in schools under previous administrations, but said the increased focus on the results of disadvantaged pupils had also had an impact. |