Oldham pupils among worst for skills in English

MORE than a quarter of Oldham pupils start secondary school with poor English.

The results of teacher assessments of 11-year-olds are the joint 12th worst in England with 74 per cent reaching the expected standard for their age (level 4).

And boys are lagging way behind girls — just 68 per cent hitting the target compared with 81 per cent.

The gap widened slightly at age 14, although English results overall are better than the national average for the teenagers.

Official statistics released this week show that 79 per cent of 11-year-olds nationally made the grade in English.

The figures were 80 per cent for maths (Oldham 78 per cent) and 86 per cent in science (84 per cent).

Teacher assessments are now the only means of measuring pupils’ ability in the core subjects at 14 after SATs were scrapped for this group last year.

They show that 77 per cent reached the standards for their age (level 5) in English (79 per cent Oldham), maths 79 per cent (78 per cent) and science 78 per cent (74 per cent).

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: “It’s clear to see that standards in our schools have been transformed over the last decade. This is down to the hard work and dedication of teachers, and a constant focus on getting the basics right.

“Test results show that thousands more children are getting the firm foundations they need in English, maths and science than in 1997, and the teacher assessment figures back this up.

“The figures show that at age 11, more children are reaching the expected level in the classroom for maths and science, and the percentage reaching level 4 in English has stayed the same.

“And at 14, more pupils are reaching level 5 in English and science, but maths has remained constant.”