HC Deb 12 March 2001 vol 364 cc434-5W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on trends in numeracy and literacy among children in junior schools in the borough of South Tyneside since 1996. [152765]

Ms Estelle Morris

In the 2000 Key Stage 2 tests, 72 per cent. of South Tyneside's 11-year-olds achieved the expected standard for their age in English, an increase of 16 percentage points since 1996. In mathematics, 74 per cent. of pupils achieved the expected standard, a 21 percentage point increase since 1996. These results are clear evidence of the success of the national literacy and numeracy strategies.