UK to miss primary school targets after Covid sparks slump in key subjects

11 February 2023 , 19:49

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275,000 11-year-olds a year are moving on to secondary education without command of basic subjects (Image: PA)

Ministers are set to miss primary school targets in English and maths after Covid triggered a slump in standards for key subjects.

Ministers want 90% of 11-year olds to meet expected standards in reading, writing and maths by 2030 - up from 53% seven years ago.

But research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found levels have gone into reverse - slipping back to only slightly above grades recorded in 2015/16.

The slump means that some 275,000 11-year-olds a year are moving on to secondary education without command of basic subjects, 50,000 more than in 2019.

Alice Wilcock, the CSJ’s Head of Education, said: “The Prime Minister has made clear his commitment to improving educational standards, stating that education is the closest thing to a silver bullet for making people’s lives better.

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“If we want to improve life chances and set the country on a path to economic growth, this must start with getting the foundations right in primary school.”

Ministers want 90% of 11-year olds to meet expected standards in reading, writing and maths by 2030 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The pandemic had a huge impact on pupils learning. Our education recovery programme, backed by £5billion, has delivered nearly three million tutoring courses.

"We are investing more than ever before in our schools, including in literacy and numeracy programmes - helping us meet our ambition for 90% of children leaving primary school to reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths by 2030.”

Mikey Smith