HC Deb 05 November 2001 vol 374 cc44-5W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how may school children in England are judged to be illiterate in each age cohort; and if she will make a statement. [11491]

Mr. Timms

Early statistics for this year show that 99 per cent. of 15-year-olds (549,450 pupils) achieved a GCSE pass in English. Literacy standards are also rising in primary schools; this year 75 per cent. of 11-year-olds (474,000 pupils) achieved the expected standard for their age in the key stage 2 English tests, an increase of 10 per cent. points since 1998.