Reading & writing standards up for county’s 7 year-olds
STANDARDS of reading, writing and mathematics among Oxfordshire’s seven-year-olds are on the rise according to official government figures.
Key Stage One results released today show 81 per cent of children in the county achieved Level 2b in reading, three percentage points up on last year, whilst 89 per cent achieved the Level 2 benchmark, up from 88 per cent last year. In last month’s Key Stage Two results, in Maths 93 per cent of Oxfordshire’s 11 year-olds achieved Level 2 (up from 91 per cent last year) and in Writing assessments further progress was made with 86 per cent achieving Level 2 – up three percentage points on 2012.
On all measures Oxfordshire was in line with, or above, the National average figures for 2013.
ENCOURAGING SIGNS
The council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families Melinda Tilley said: “Following the impressive Key Stage two results released last month, I am delighted to see further encouraging signs that children at the earliest stages of their schooling are starting to make the strides we all want to see. We are starting to witness sustained progress in attainment levels throughout the primary school years, which will be hugely welcomed by Oxfordshire schools and the communities they serve.
“This progress is testament to the hard work of teaching staff and the efforts of children and their families. I would like to congratulate everyone associated with these improving results and would urge them to keep going to help our children truly fulfil their potential.”
Image courtesy of webarchive.netionalarchives.gov.uk
FURTHER ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Cllr Tilley added: “It must be stated that we are still at the beginning of a long road. It’s no secret that recent standards in core subjects among primary school-age children in Oxfordshire have been a long way below where they need to be, and there is still room for significant further progress.
“There is certainly no room for complacency and everyone involved in raising the attainment of Oxfordshire children should continue striving for our county’s results to be the absolute best they can be.”
