HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc149-50W
Linda Perham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to raise the performance of under-achieving students. [127779]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies are designed to raise standards for all students but include a strong focus on under-achievement. At Primary stage we provide several programmes to help pupils reach the expected level for their age by the end of Key Stage 2, plus targeted local support to schools and LEAs on addressing under-performance. Further measures being introduced this September, such as the Primary Leadership Programme, are also designed to tackle lower attainment. Evidence of the impact of our programmes is reflected in the Key Stage 2 results. The 2003 results show that 75 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved the expected level for their age in English and 73 per cent. in maths. This represents a 10 percentage point increase in English and a 14 percentage point increase in maths since 1998.

We are using a similar model to address under-performance for pupils aged 11–14 through the Key Stage 3 Strategy. There are tailored support programmes in each of the three years at Key Stage 3 to help lower-attaining pupils reach the expected level at age 14. We are also targeting schools and LEAs that we believe would benefit from additional support. After only the first full year of the Strategy, the Key Stage 3 tests results stand at their best ever, Maths is up by three percentage points to 70 per cent. achieving level 5 (the expected level) and science and English are both up by one percentage point to 68 per cent.. There have also been improvements in level 6 attainment of four and seven percentage points in maths and science respectively.

At Key Stage 4 we are also supporting schools where pupil performance is too low. We are directing substantial resources through Excellence in Cities to transform standards in urban areas facing the challenges associated with cities. We are also supporting schools in difficult circumstances to address under-performance through the Leadership Incentive Grant.