Primary School Standards

HC Deb 25 October 2001 vol 373 cc328-9W

Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about standards in primary schools. [6698]

John Healey

There has been a substantial rise in primary school standards following the introduction of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. Since 1998, there has been a 10 per cent. point improvement to 75 per cent. in the number of pupils achieving the expected standard for their age in the Key Stage 2 English tests and a 12 per cent. point improvement to 71 per cent. in maths. We remain committed to raising standards further and achieving the challenging targets we have set.