Pupils hit targets in the 3Rs

THE number of 11-year-olds in Oldham who left primary school this year able to read, write and grasp maths has risen.

Department of Education figures show 79 per cent of year six pupils reached the expected standard for their age in the three subjects up from 77 per cent in 2013, and matching the national average.

But the figures mean that around 650 of the borough’s pupils will start secondary schools this week without a firm grasp of the basics.

In July, Oldham claimed that it has “surged ahead” of the national average. But it was comparing Oldham’s figures for this year with the national figures for last year.

Results of Oldham pupils in the grammar, punctuation and spelling test improved from 75 per cent to 77 per cent while the figure for the reading test was unchanged at 88 per cent.

Performance in the maths test dropped slightly from 87 to 86 per cent. Teacher assessments also showed that 86 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in writing.