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Sats results show decline in writing skills at age seven
28.08.08
Fewer seven year-olds mastered basic writing this year amid fresh evidence of falling standards in primary schools.
Writing results for boys and girls fell for the third year running.
Only eight per cent of boys reached the higher grades in writing, half the level of girls.
The figures also showed a shock fall in the number of children scoring top grades in maths, English and science.
The results in England followed Sats figures this month that showed a similar picture for 11-year-olds.
The Government urged parents to stop children watching too much TV at home. Officials said the writing tests now include spelling, which is a "weaker area" for many pupils. The figures showed:
• Only 58 per cent of seven-yearolds were working securely at the level expected of them in writing this year, down from 62 per cent in 2005.
• In reading, 29 per cent of pupils were not confidently up to standard, no improvement on last year.
• Maths results also stalled, with 26 per cent of pupils not yet working securely at the expected level.
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "It is vital that children get the basics early in primary school but the results for seven-year-olds are flat-lining. Without learning to read, they will never be able to read to learn."
By the age of seven, pupils are expected to have reached Level 2 in their teacher assessments.
Mr Gove said he was particularly worried by the drop across all subjects in the numbers of pupils reaching the higher Level 3 this summer.
"The fall in the higher levels of achievement is a concern," he said. "As with the results for 11-year-olds, it looks like bright children are not being sufficiently stretched."
Professor Alan Smithers, from the University of Buckingham, said boys needed special attention early to stop their first experience of school being "failure".
"Girls by and large find it easier to learn to read and write than boys," he said. "If we want to narrow the gender gap we have to tackle this difference before the age of seven."
Children's Minister Kevin Brennan acknowledged that more could be done and said the Government was introducing a programme called Every Child a Writer for children who need extra support with writing.
He added: "Parents have a big role to play - reading at home with children and rationing time spent watching TV at this crucial stage are vitally important."
