Primary school test results improved this year with the number of 11 year olds reaching the required standard in maths and English rising, figures showed today.
In the two core subjects the proportion of schoolchildren reaching level four - the standard expected of the age group - increased by one per cent. There was no change in the proportion of children reaching the required benchmark in science.
Figures showed 81 per cent of pupils reached level four in English and 78 per cent in maths. For science the figure was 88 per cent.
Officials in the Shropshire county and Telford & Wrekin education authorities are now analysing data to see how well schools in the two areas have performed.
But today’s results have been overshadowed by on-going delays with marking this year’s tests - described by Shropshire education boss, Ann Hartley, as “diabolical and unforgivable”.
Delivery of results to schools was delayed due to problems with marking and inputting data.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said last week he had been advised that there was enough data available to go ahead with publication.
But Mrs Hartley, county council cabinet member for children’s services, has told him that the delays, which have also affected test results for 14 year olds, has caused “considerable distress” to pupils across Shropshire.
County teacher Mike Wardle, deputy head of Bridgnorth Endowed School, has also warned that schools can have no faith in a marking system which is “clearly in meltdown”.
Headteachers nationally have warned that there was still widespread concern about late or missing results and inaccuracies in marking, and suggested ministers were issuing the results “prematurely”.
A spokesman for the National Association of Headteachers said they had received more than 300 examples of maladministration and inaccuracies.
The Government has a target to get 85 per cent of 11 year olds up to level four in English and maths.
By Dave Morris
2 Comments
I cannot believe they’ve published the results!!!
Many headteachers and teachers like myself will no doubt be delighted and fascinated to see what results are published for their schools this morning, as they have yet to receive all of them, let alone verify or check them for errors (of which there are many) and send them back for final grading!
It is a total nonsense that £145 million has been spent and the results are totally unreliable.
These inaccurate results are potentially very damaging indeed. I am appalled at the blind disregard of the government to not declare them unreliable from the outset after this total fiasco.
Roll on the league tables - that will be an even bigger farce. Mr. Balls, take my advice, go to Teacher Assessments with spot checks - it will save you shed loads of money and you will be the best thing since sliced bread with the teaching profession.
The carbon trail on a bag of grapes makes headline news, but what price the boxes of SATs papers being shipped around the country I wonder?
Let’s face it Mr. Harris! At least 35% of students leaving school and entering the workforce or post secondary institutions, have poor literacy and numeracy skills and are unable to cope in the environment outside of school.
The introduction of these tests have had neither a positive nor negative influence on student achievement - it has been the past 20 or so years of poor teaching methods, not to mention ‘warm-and-fuzzy’ pedagogy such as ‘whole language’.
In regards to the costs - shameful as they might be - they are indeed a drop in the bucket of what is wasted within the industry on a daily basis - year round.
It seems to me that the very spirit and purpose of public education has been lost and only by reflecting on the past - its mistakes and successes - will we achieve a better and more productive system for our children.
And not just 65% - but - all of them.