Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 July 2004. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Thursday, 22 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research his Department has commissioned on the numbers of children leaving primary school who have inadequate literacy and numeracy skills. - Inc figures and ref to Strategy for Children and Learners.

Answer: Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned on the numbers of children leaving primary school who have inadequate literacy and numeracy skills. [185201] Mr. Miliband: The annual data received from the Key Stage 2 results enables the Department to identify the proportion of children who have not reached the expected level for their age. In 2003, 75 per cent. of 11- year-olds achieved a Level 4 in English and 73 per cent. achieved a Level 4 in mathematics. The national pupil database enables a detailed understanding of the progress of these pupils to Key Stage 3 and beyond. The Primary Strategy supports the drive to raise standards in literacy and numeracy by providing specific programmes to improve the quality of teaching and learning in primary schools so that every child can make the maximum possible progress. Through this we now have the best ever literacy and numeracy results at ages 7 and 11. Our long term aim, set out in the five year Strategy for Children and Learners published on 8 July 2004, is to maintain world class standards and to achieve both excellence and equity for all primary age children by raising standards for those from our most disadvantaged groups.

Secondary information