Oldham’s pupils are a class apart

pupils in Oldham are continuing to improve their grades in national tests.
According to the figures released by the Department for Education, 75-per-cent of all students achieved a level four or above in both English and maths in their Key Stage 2 tests this year.

The tests, referred to as SATs, are taken in the last year of primary school in three core subjects, English, maths and science.

The Dfe say the aim is get children to level four by the end primary school.

The results for Oldham in May, 2010 show 74-per-cent of girls achieved at least level four in both English and maths and 76-per-cent of boys — a combined 75-per-cent. This compares with 76-per-cent in the North-West and 74-per-cent across England.

Attainment levels across the

borough have risen from 72-per-cent of pupils achieving at least a level four in both core subject in 2008 and 70-per-cent in 2006.

Nationally, one in six pupils are falling behind in English or maths by the time they leave primary school. Comparing the results of the tests age 11 to those taken when the child was seven, around 61,500 youngsters (16-per-cent) did not progress by two levels in English and 66,000 (17-per-cent) did not make this progress in maths.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Despite the hard work of teachers and pupils, it is still a very real concern that one in six children fail to make the expected progress in the basics of English and maths between the ages of seven and 11.

“Thousands of children are condemned to struggle at secondary school and beyond unless they get the fundamentals of reading, writing and maths right at an early age.

“We also need to ensure that those who are doing well when they are seven are stretched to their full potential.

“Getting the basics right at the start of primary school is vital, which is why we are putting synthetic phonics at the heart of teaching children to read.

“We are introducing a short reading test for six-year-olds and we are committed to driving up standards of numeracy at primary school and doubling the number of highly skilled graduate teachers in our schools, including in primary schools for the first time.”