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

11 February 2023 , 19:49

912     0

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.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

“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