Almost 1,000 primary schools not meeting minimum standards, league tables show

December 14 2010

Nearly 1,000 primary schools in England are still failing to ensure that their pupils enter secondary education with a firm grasp of basic maths and English, newly-released figures show.

According to the latest league tables published by the Department for Education, some 962 schools across the country run the risk of being closed altogether or else taken over by more-successful institutions due to their poor standards.

Highlighting the challenges still facing the government and those in teaching jobs in England, the figures show that just 280 schools ensure all of their pupils finish primary education with the numeracy and literacy skills they will need to thrive at secondary school, with only one - Manuden Primary in Bishop's Stortford - seeing all its pupils exceed the minimum standards.

Commenting on these latest league tables, schools minister Nick Gibb acknowledged that more needs to be done to boost primary-level education standards, including in basic reading and writing skills.

He added, however: "It's why we are putting such an emphasis on improving pupils' reading ability in the first years of primary school, with a focus on phonics."

Just recently, education secretary Michael Gove stated that schools where fewer than 60 per cent of pupils fail to meet basic standards could face 'intervention'.

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