HC Deb 06 January 2004 vol 416 cc294-5W
Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which of the Government's(a) numeracy and (b) literacy targets for 11 year olds were missed in 2002. [145202]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The 2002 Key Stage 2 targets for 80 per cent. of 11 year olds to reach level 4+ in English and 75 per cent. of 11 year olds to reach level 4+ in mathematics were set in 1997. The results from the 2002 National Curriculum tests showed that 75 per cent. of 11 year olds reached this level in English and 73 per cent. in mathematics. Results were maintained at that level in 2003.

These results represent a significant improvement—of 12 percentage points in English and 11 percentage points in mathematics—in standards since 1997, reflecting the impact of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies on primary schools. We remain absolutely committed, through our new Primary Strategy, to supporting schools to achieve the ambitious targets we have set for standards of literacy and numeracy.

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 11-year-olds have reached the required standard in(a) English and (b) numeracy in each year since the introduction of the National Literacy Strategy, broken down by local education authority. [145203]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been provided to implement the Government's(a) numeracy and (b) literacy strategies in each year since 1998. [145206]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, which started in 1998 and 1999 respectively, have transformed standards of attainment in primary schools. The total funding available (including matched funding) to local education authorities in England through the Standards Fund to support the implementation of the strategies in each financial year since 1998–99 was as follows:

£ million
National Literacy Strategy National Numeracy Strategy
1998–99 62.7 —
1999–2000 72.8 73.8
2000–01 84.5 95.2
2001–02 102.6 103
2002–03 101.2 101.2
2003–04 107.4 107.4