HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 cc38-9W
Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 11 year olds in maintained schools achieved the standard of(a) literacy and (b) numeracy for that age in each year since 1997. [38801]

Mr. Timms

The table shows the number and percentage of pupils in maintained mainstream schools in England who achieved Level 4 or above in the(a) English and (b) mathematics Key Stage 2 tests in each year from 1997 to 2001.

The table confirms that the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies have succeeded in raising standards in primary schools.

(a) English (b) Mathematics
1997
Number at Level 4 or above1 360,200 353,100
Percentage of eligible pupils 63 62
1998
Number at Level 4 or above1 377,800 341,200
Percentage of eligible pupils 65 58
1999
Number at Level 4 or above1 424,500 415,600
Percentage of eligible pupils 70 69
2000
Number at Level 4 or above1 446,100 427,000
Percentage of eligible pupils 75 72
2001
Number at Level 4 or above1 453,900 427,300
Percentage of eligible pupils 75 71
1 Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what percentages her Department has set for pupils to achieve level 4 at Key Stage 2 tests in(a) English and (b) maths; and what target dates her Department has set for these targets to be met; [38804]

(2) what further targets her Department plans to set in relation to the commitment to increase the percentage of children who achieve level 4 in each of the Key Stage 2 English and maths. [38805]

Mr. Timms

We remain committed to achieving our Key Stage 2 targets for 2002, which are for 80 per cent. of pupils to achieve level 4 or above in English and 75 per cent. to do so in maths.

We recently consulted on higher targets for 2004 of 85 per cent. of pupils achieving level 4 or above in English and maths and 35 per cent. achieving level 5 or above. We are considering responses to the consultation carefully and expect to make an announcement about the national targets shortly.

(a) English (b) Mathematics (c) ICT1 (d) Science
1997 Number at Level 5 or above2 315,600 332,500 232,000 331,800
Percentage of eligible pupils 57 60 50 60
1998 Number of Level 5 or above2 358,000 331,600 242,000 310,500
Percentage of eligible pupils 65 59 56 56
1999 Number at Level 5 or above2 365.700 358,400 315,700 315,200
Percentage of eligible pupils 64 62 58 55
2000 Number at Level 5 or above2 369,800 376,300 341,200 343,800
Percentage of eligible pupils 64 65 62 59
2001 Number at Level 5 or above2 382,600 394.600 357,100 390,000
Percentage of eligible pupils 65 66 65 66

Notes:

1 The ICT results are based on Teacher Assessments; English, maths and science are based on the test results.

2 The numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

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