Pupils behind in key subjects

Oldham’s seven-year-olds are lagging behind at school.

New figures show that 83 per cent of them reached the expected standard for their age in reading and 79 per cent in writing.

And the figures of 86 per cent in maths and 85 per cent in science are both the second worst in the North West behind Manchester.

The results are based on teacher assessments after tests for seven years olds were scrapped.

Nationally writing results improved by one percentage point to 81 per cent while maths results dropped one point to 89 per cent. Reading and science results remained the same at 84 and 89 per cent respectively.

Girls outperformed boys in every subject, with the biggest gulf in writing.

School’s Minister Diana Johnson welcomed the improvements, but promised that more would be done to give all children the best start to their education. This includes extending intensive one-to-one support for those falling behind in reading and maths.

She added: “I am pleased that the results show high standards are being maintained in the early years of primary school. This is down to the hard work of teachers, and a consistent focus on supporting all children to achieve their potential.

“While this year’s dip in maths is disappointing, overall the trend is a positive one with standards remaining high in recent years. Almost nine out of ten of our children are hitting the expected level, but some are not quite there which is a concern because numeracy and literacy skills are so essential to learning.

“That’s why our focus over the past 12 years has been on getting the basics right in the first few crucial years of primary school.”