03 December 2009

London primary schools failing 50,000 children

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Today’s league tables come amid growing uncertainty over the future of Sats

London primary schools failing 50,000 children

Tim Ross and Peter Dominiczak
01.12.09

Up to 50,000 children are being condemned to a second-rate education in London's failing primary schools, figures show today.

Official results found that 140 London schools missed the Government's most basic target for raising standards in the “three Rs”.

It comes as Evening Standard league tables reveal that more than half of 11-year-olds in the capital's worst state primaries failed to master basic reading, writing and maths this summer. The pattern was repeated across England, where more primary schools scored poor Sats results this year than last year.

The latest tables, published amid mounting opposition to compulsory testing in schools, are another blow to the Government's record on education.

Click here to see the full league tables (PDF)

The children who took Sats this year were born during Tony Blair's first term in office, which he won after promising to prioritise “education, education, education”.

When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister two years ago he too declared: “Education is my passion.”

Last week, Ofsted warned that a third of state schools were no better than “mediocre”, despite £2  billion spent on improving literacy and numeracy since 1997.

Liberal Democrat education spokesman David Laws said the latest results were “very worrying”. He said: “Standards in our primary schools are now showing signs of slipping backwards.”

Children's Secretary Ed Balls is set to publish plans to raise standards in primary schools this week. But today's figures, based on test results for almost 600,000 pupils across England this summer, demonstrate the scale of the task he faces. Government Sats results showed:

* 140 London primary schools — teaching about 50,000 children — failed to ensure that at least 55 per cent of 11-year-olds made the grade in English and maths. Ministers have a target to reduce the number of schools falling short of this most basic standard.

* Fewer London primaries compared with last year scored maximum marks this year with every pupil passing their Sats in English, maths and science at the Level 4 grade, the standard expected of the age group.

* More pupils fell behind this year than in the past, failing to make the expected rate of progress in English and maths between the ages of seven and 11.

* The pass rate for English fell for the first time in the history of the tests.

Last week, Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert warned that progress in making sure children master basic English and maths has been “too slow over the last four years”.

Children who reach Level 4 in English can “read between the lines”, use commas to break up long sentences, and “get the point” of a story or poem.

Pupils who make the grade in maths can add, subtract, multiply and divide, know their times tables up to 10x10, and are “comfortable solving everyday problems”. London schools minister Diana Johnson said children who fall short of Level 4 were not “lost” and could still read “and enjoy” Harry Potter books, for example.

Today's tables, ranking 1,600 state primary schools in London, come amid uncertainty over the future of Sats. After results were delayed by marking problems last year, ministers scrapped the tests for 14-year-olds, and axed science Sats for 11-year-olds. Last month, Mr Balls hinted that he was prepared to consider abolishing the remaining national tests in English and maths as well — if a robust alternative assessment system could be found.Headteachers are threatening to boycott next year's Sats if ministers do not scrap the tests immediately.

London's top 10 state primaries

All schools scored 100% Sats pass rates in English, maths and science. They are ranked using their “value-added” measure, which rates pupils' progress

Riverside Primary School, Rotherhithe 103.6%
Kingswood Primary School, Lambeth 103.4%
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Primary School, Greenwich 102.8%
Barnes Primary School, Richmond 102.8%
Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School, Westminster 102.4%
St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, Richmond 102.1%
Newton Farm Nursery, First and Middle School, Harrow 102%
Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, Wandsworth 101.9%
St James' Roman Catholic Primary School, Bromley 101.9%
Brandlehow Primary School, Wandsworth 101.8%

The bottom 10

State primary schools with the lowest percentage of children passing Sats in both English and maths combined

The Alton School, Roehampton 17%
Bellenden Primary School Peckham 29%
Gallions Primary School, East Beckton 31%
Haseltine Primary School, Sydenham 31%
Burbage School, Hackney 32%
Kenmont Primary School, Willesden 33%
Leesons Primary School, Orpington 35%
The Kilburn Park School Foundation 35%
Henry Fawcett Primary School, Kennington 36%
De Bohun Primary School, Southgate 37%


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23777677-london-primary-schools-failing-30000-children.do

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