§ 2. Mr. Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) (Con)If he will make a statement on the use of synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading in primary schools. [147867]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Stephen Twigg)The National Literacy Strategy has put phonics—synthetic and analytic—right at the heart of literacy teaching in primary schools. That has contributed to the sustained improvement in literacy standards among primary school children.
§ Mr. GibbThe Minister may be aware that at the Kobi Nazrul school in a deprived part of Tower Hamlets, 92 per cent of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 in reading, while a school in a leafy middle-class suburb can achieve only 71 or 72 per cent. Is it the case that one of those schools places much greater emphasis than the other on synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading? Does the Minister accept that if he wants the delivery unit to 944 report progress on his stalled target for reading, he must insist that greater emphasis is placed on synthetic phonics in primary schools?
§ Mr. TwiggI also pay tribute to the school to which the hon. Gentleman referred and to others in Tower Hamlets, which have demonstrated the great importance of phonics teaching—including synthetic phonics—in primary schools. Prior to the national literacy strategy, many schools were using synthetic phonics barely or not at all. The take-up is much greater than it used to be. I am considering whether we should conduct additional research to evaluate the different programmes available, to ensure that best practice is shared among primary schools throughout the country.
§ Paddy Tipping (Sherwood) (Lab)Has not the literacy hour—which provides a framework within which teachers can use look-and-say, phonics and synthetic phonics—been an enormous success? Should not the Department identify good practice, examine professional judgment, and promote best practice?
§ Mr. TwiggMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Earlier this year, we published "Excellence and Enjoyment" to build on the success of the Government's literacy and numeracy strategies. Some 60,000 additional 11-year-olds are achieving at least level 4 as they leave primary school, which is important progress. As my hon. Friend said, the literacy hour and broader literacy strategy have been vital to the progress made by primary school pupils and teachers.