Drop in school pupils hitting expected levels

THERE has been a drop in pupils in the county reaching the expected level in reading, writing and maths by the end of primary school, according to data.

The first assessments since the pandemic show an eight per cent drop in pupils reaching the expected standard.

Figures from the Department for Education show 57 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in Key Stage 2 assessments for reading, writing and maths earlier this year.

That was down from 65 per cent in 2019.

These were the first assessments since the pandemic saw tests cancelled in 2020 and 2021. However, that meant the pupils experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic, particularly at the end of Year 4 and in Year 5. The proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard across the three subjects also dropped, from 11 per cent to six per cent. Among pupils in Gloucestershire, 75 per cent reached the expected standard in reading, the same as 2019.

For maths, 70 per cent reached the expected standard, down from 78 per cent before the pandemic. In writing, 69 per cent reached the expected standard, a drop from 78 per cent in 2019.

Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member responsible for education at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “While the data is still being checked by ourselves and our schools to ensure that it is accurate, we are able to say that Gloucestershire’s results reflect a national short term decline due to the effects of COVID-19 and the disruption to children’s education. Although schools have made every effort to ensure that children did not miss out, there will inevitably have been an effect.

“We know schools are working extremely hard to address any gaps in learning and we continue to work closely with our schools and the academies in the county.”

Across England, attainment increased slightly in reading and fell in all other subjects compared to 2019 at both the expected and higher standard. Across the combined measure, attainment also decreased compared to 2019 at both the expected and higher standard.