Overall standards in reading, writing and math have fallen among sixth-formers in England since the pandemic, Sats findings say.
They show that 59% of students have achieved expected levels in these combined areas this year, up from 65% in 2019.
The national curriculum tests were canceled in 2020 and 2021.
The Government says the Sats results were “anticipated due to the impact of the pandemic” and that there is “more work to be done” to help students catch up.
By 2030, 90% of children graduating from primary school are expected to achieve the expected standards in reading, writing and numeracy.
Unions have called for further investment in schools and teaching staff to achieve this goal.
The students attending Sats this summer – mostly 11-year-olds – were well into fourth grade when schools closed to most children for the first time in March 2020.
More school closures followed while in 5th grade and many students were also experiencing disruption due to Covid at the start of 6th grade.
- Students expected better performance in math and English
- Covid drives deepening educational inequalities – MPs
- Students fell behind again in the second lockdown
Results from individual subjects suggest that reading levels have increased slightly – 74% of students achieved the expected standard, up from 73% in 2019.
But the proportion of students who achieve the expected level has also fallen in all other subjects since 2019:
- 71% in math, less than 79%
- 69% in writing, versus 78%
- 72% in grammar, punctuation and spelling, versus 78%
- 79% in science, versus 83%
School Standards Secretary Robin Walker said of this year’s results: “While this is disappointing, it was expected given the impact of the pandemic.
“The government recognizes and appreciates the work that teachers across the country are putting into restoring education, but also understands that more needs to be done.”
He added that £5billion has been set aside to help pupils catch up and that children falling behind in English and math would be given “the right evidence-based targeted support to get them back on track”.
The government’s recovery fund falls far short of what education unions and former Aufholzar Sir Kevan Collins said needed – around £15billion.
The money to organize tutoring will go directly to schools in England next school year after the government canceled its contract with tutoring provider Randstad.
The extent of learning disabilities due to Covid varies widely across England and the poorest students have fallen further behind than the better off, according to a report by the Education Policy Institute and Renaissance for the Government.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, expressed caution about this year’s Sats data because “some families and school communities [were] hit far harder than others by the pandemic.
“It’s important to remember that the support that schools have put in place has not only focused on academic progress, but also on social and emotional recovery,” he said.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the decline in math and writing standards reflected “the tremendous importance of direct classroom teaching of these subjects – which, of course, has been severely disrupted”.
He said the government’s 2030 targets would require “significant investment in schools and teaching staff”.
He added that with the current plans, “it’s hard to imagine how that could possibly be achieved”.
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