§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effect of the National Literacy Strategy on literacy skills among primary school pupils in Taunton. [127773]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe National Literacy Strategy has transformed standards of literacy in our primary schools. Nationally, 75 per cent. of pupils achieved level 4 or above in the 2003 Key Stage 2 English tests, 10 percentage points more than in 1998. A recent international study showed that England's 10-year-olds are now the third most able readers in the world.
In Somerset schools, the percentage of pupils achieving level 4 in the Key Stage 2 English tests has improved by seven percentage points, from 67 per cent. to 74 per cent., between 1998 and 2003. We are unable to disaggregate the results for Taunton schools.