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Literacy

Answer

I have been asked to reply.The Department does not currently report figures for functional literacy at age 16. We are piloting functional English qualifications at entry level, level 1 and level 2 to be available from 2010 which will provide young people and adults with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work. The Government currently have a National Indicator to increase the percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent including GCSEs in English and mathematics in maintained schools. Figures showing the percentage of pupils in maintained schools meeting this target in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:

	Percentage
1997	32.5
1998	34.0
1999	39.4
2000	37.3
2001	38.1
2002	39.5
2003	39.5
2004	40.4
2005	42.5
2006	44.0
2007	45.8
2008	48.2
2009	50.7
Note: Figures from 2005 relate to pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Figures prior to this relate to 15-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August). Figures relate to pupils in maintained schools.

Since 2005 the Department has also collected data on pupils achieving English and mathematics skills at Level 1. This shows the proportion of pupils achieving Level 1 English and mathematics, literacy and numeracy—even though some may not have achieved the equivalent GCSEs:

	Percentage
2005	91.1
2006	91.6
2007	93.9
2008	93.6
2009	94.5
Note: Figures from 2005 relate to pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Figures prior to this relate to 15-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August). Figures relate to pupils in maintained schools.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

507 c518-9W; 304544

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Literacy

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk