Results are on track to meet David Blunkett's targets

In maths, this year's result of 72% is an improvement on last year's 69%, which was a big improvement on the previous figure of 59%.

The improvements mean the government is on track to reach its targets of 80% in English and 75% in maths by its own deadline of 2002.

"This year's results show teachers and pupils are firmly on track to meet our targets. Also beneath the headline figures, we see even more evidence of the success of the literacy and numeracy strategies," said the Education Secretary David Blunkett.

More training

But the writing results are still lagging behind, only edging up this year to a disappointing average of 55%, which breaks down into 48% for boys and 63% for girls.

Mr Blunkett is allocating �9m for special courses in teaching writing for teachers of nine and 10 year olds, as reported in June.

Schools are also to get a guide to grammar.

The Shadow Education Secretary, Theresa May, said the results made "disturbing reading".

"David Blunkett's literacy strategy is failing to teach young people, especially boys, to be able to write properly," she said.

"If standards had continued to rise at the same rate as under the last Conservative government then David Blunkett would have already met his targets."

Science shines

Although public attention is focused on the results for 11 year olds, there were improvements across the board for seven year olds - and a slight decline in English results for 14 year olds, for the second year running.

Curiously - in the absence of any specific initiative or targets - the biggest improvement in any age group this year, and the highest standard overall, is in the science tests sat by 11 year olds.

There was an improvement of seven percentage points, with 85% of the age group now meeting or exceeding the expected standard.

Yet research presented to the British Psychological Society this week suggested that younger pupils found science concepts particularly difficult to grasp.

The table below shows the percentages reaching or exceeding the level expected for their age:

	1999	2000	+/-
Key Stage 1 (age 7)
English
reading	82	83	1
writing	83	84	1
spelling	71	72	1
Maths	87	90	3
Key Stage 2 (age 11)
English	71	75	4
reading	78	83	5
writing	54	55	1
Maths	69	72	3
Science	78	85	7
Key Stage 3 (age 14)
English	64	63	-1
Maths	62	65	3
Science	55	59	4

Click here for a breakdown of the results by gender.

The fastest improving local authority was Tower Hamlets in east London, and on Wednesday morning David Blunkett is visiting one of the borough's most successful primary schools.

The Marion Richardson School has made rapid increases in test results in the past two years. English results have risen over two years from 49% to 80% and maths results from 55% to 85%.

This has been achieved in an inner-city school in which 82% of pupils have English as their second language and in which about a quarter of the pupils are designated as having special needs.

The head teacher, John Ridgley, says the improvements can be attributed to the impact of the numeracy and literacy hours - the government initiative which dedicates time each day to raising standards in these subjects.

Mental arithmetic popular

Although initially unenthusiastic about their introduction, he says they have successfully focused schools on the task of raising skills in English and maths.

The popularity of the daily maths lesson - and its mental arithmetic - have taken the head by surprise.

"I thought, give it six months and they'll be bored - but that hasn't been the case," said Mr Ridgley.

As a head teacher at the school for the past 20 years, Mr Ridgley says the improvements in results correspond with an actual raising of ability among pupils.

But the emphasis on improving English and maths has meant putting pressure elsewhere in the timetable - with claims that activities such as music and sport were being squeezed out of the school day.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said there was "clear evidence" that history, geography, design and technology, art, music and PE had all suffered.

"Steps must be taken to create a broad and balanced curriculum without delay, otherwise future generations of pupils will be deprived of the rounded education to which they are entitled."

Mr Ridgley's answer to the problem has been to make the day longer, with activities such as rugby, basketball, jazz dance and art taking place after school, using financial support from the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in the City of London.

		Boys			Girls
	1999	2000	+/-	1999	2000	+/-
Key Stage 1 (age 7)
English
- reading	78	79	1	86	88	2
- writing	78	80	2	88	89	1
- spelling	66	67	1	77	77	0
Maths	85	89	4	88	91	3
Key Stage 2 (age 11)
English	65	70	5	76	79	3
- reading	75	80	5	82	86	4
- writing	47	48	1	62	63	1
Maths	69	72	3	69	71	2
Science	79	84	5	78	85	7
Key Stage 3 (age 14)
English	55	55	0	73	72	-1
Maths	62	64	2	62	65	3
Science	55	61	6	55	58	3

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