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London primary schools failing 50,000 children
Tim Ross and Peter Dominiczak01.12.09
Up to 50,000 children are being condemned to a second-rate education in London's failing primary schools, figures show today.
Official results found that 140 London schools missed the Government's most basic target for raising standards in the “three Rs”.
It comes as Evening Standard league tables reveal that more than half of 11-year-olds in the capital's worst state primaries failed to master basic reading, writing and maths this summer. The pattern was repeated across England, where more primary schools scored poor Sats results this year than last year.
The latest tables, published amid mounting opposition to compulsory testing in schools, are another blow to the Government's record on education.
Click here to see the full league tables (PDF)
The children who took Sats this year were born during Tony Blair's first term in office, which he won after promising to prioritise “education, education, education”.
When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister two years ago he too declared: “Education is my passion.”
Last week, Ofsted warned that a third of state schools were no better than “mediocre”, despite £2 billion spent on improving literacy and numeracy since 1997.
Liberal Democrat education spokesman David Laws said the latest results were “very worrying”. He said: “Standards in our primary schools are now showing signs of slipping backwards.”
Children's Secretary Ed Balls is set to publish plans to raise standards in primary schools this week. But today's figures, based on test results for almost 600,000 pupils across England this summer, demonstrate the scale of the task he faces. Government Sats results showed:
* 140 London primary schools — teaching about 50,000 children — failed to ensure that at least 55 per cent of 11-year-olds made the grade in English and maths. Ministers have a target to reduce the number of schools falling short of this most basic standard.
* Fewer London primaries compared with last year scored maximum marks this year with every pupil passing their Sats in English, maths and science at the Level 4 grade, the standard expected of the age group.
* More pupils fell behind this year than in the past, failing to make the expected rate of progress in English and maths between the ages of seven and 11.
* The pass rate for English fell for the first time in the history of the tests.
Last week, Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert warned that progress in making sure children master basic English and maths has been “too slow over the last four years”.
Children who reach Level 4 in English can “read between the lines”, use commas to break up long sentences, and “get the point” of a story or poem.
Pupils who make the grade in maths can add, subtract, multiply and divide, know their times tables up to 10x10, and are “comfortable solving everyday problems”. London schools minister Diana Johnson said children who fall short of Level 4 were not “lost” and could still read “and enjoy” Harry Potter books, for example.
Today's tables, ranking 1,600 state primary schools in London, come amid uncertainty over the future of Sats. After results were delayed by marking problems last year, ministers scrapped the tests for 14-year-olds, and axed science Sats for 11-year-olds. Last month, Mr Balls hinted that he was prepared to consider abolishing the remaining national tests in English and maths as well — if a robust alternative assessment system could be found.Headteachers are threatening to boycott next year's Sats if ministers do not scrap the tests immediately.
London's top 10 state primaries
All schools scored 100% Sats pass rates in English, maths and science. They are ranked using their “value-added” measure, which rates pupils' progress
Riverside Primary School, Rotherhithe 103.6%
Kingswood Primary School, Lambeth 103.4%
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Primary School, Greenwich 102.8%
Barnes Primary School, Richmond 102.8%
Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School, Westminster 102.4%
St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, Richmond 102.1%
Newton Farm Nursery, First and Middle School, Harrow 102%
Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, Wandsworth 101.9%
St James' Roman Catholic Primary School, Bromley 101.9%
Brandlehow Primary School, Wandsworth 101.8%
The bottom 10
State primary schools with the lowest percentage of children passing Sats in both English and maths combined
The Alton School, Roehampton 17%
Bellenden Primary School Peckham 29%
Gallions Primary School, East Beckton 31%
Haseltine Primary School, Sydenham 31%
Burbage School, Hackney 32%
Kenmont Primary School, Willesden 33%
Leesons Primary School, Orpington 35%
The Kilburn Park School Foundation 35%
Henry Fawcett Primary School, Kennington 36%
De Bohun Primary School, Southgate 37%
Reader views (10)
Is it a surprise that failing schools are found in areas of deprivation and disadvantage? How is a school expected to cope with all the consequences of dysfunctional homes, poverty, neglect, addiction. It is ludicrous to compare attainment of children from disadvantaged backgrounds with the attainment of children from stable homes where they get read a story every night, put to bed early and then sent off to school the next day with a good breakfast. This is not every child's reality. Teachers are working hard in tough areas to help such children with far worse problems than simply doing badly in their SATS and what does the Government do? Produce meaningless league tables and criticise rather than appreciate the efforts of those trying to narrow the disadvantage that is so deeply entrenched before children even start school..this annual ritual humiliation stigmatises children and turns parents against schools. This is typical smug middle class elitism which we have come to expect from this Labour Government... completely detached from reality.
- Lucy, Wandsworth
immigrants causing high mobility in schools; poor english, high percentage of EAL learners; overworked teachers who have now perfected charts and paperwork; bad behaviour; undervalued education; permissive parents...and we wonder why?!
- Ms Summer, Enfield
Please dont blame to inmigration that is racist and discriminating
I came from abroad and I paid 40 THOUSAND Pounds per year to keep my 2 kids at decent education
- Patricia Alvares, London -South Kensington
2 points:
a) Agree with the comment about checking out a school for yourself. Merely good results in one year or even three, does not mean that school is right for YOUR child.
A child may attend one of the 'top' schools on these listings, find themselves disillusioned with school, and subsequently do poorly. Conversely, same child may attend a low value added scoring school and find that they click with the staff, ethos and method...and be that pupil who flouts the curve.
The parent(s) is/are the best judge not these listings alone.
b) My wife just made a very valid point regarding schools on these listings that maintain a selection process that excludes certain children...mainly based on religion. Should these schools be included on a listing that parents (of varied denomination or otherwise) may use as reference for school selection??
Most schools select their attendees based on general criteria: sibling attendance, special needs and proximity. Indeed, removing the schools labelled RC or even CofE portrays a considerably different picture in our opinion.
Go compare.
- El, Croydon
the above tables of the lowest and highest achieving primary schools are based soley on SATS results which anyone knows tell a very small part of a schools story. One year of poor results can mean that a school is doomed. Anyone who has visited Gallions primary school in Beckton knows that it is a good school,as OFSTED states in its recent report. You only have to walk through the door to hear and see great things going on at the school. Dont judge a school soley on one years results. Go and see for yourself!
- Becky Hempstock, Enfield London
Discussing this with a retired teacher over lunch he pointed out that in my day teachers had to deal with just English students, who has been brought up to respect authority. Today the average teacher has to deal with ten different languages in class and no one respects authority.
The rot started once again under labour in the sixties and seventies. Everyone had to be a winner. At my sons school a boy was actually told to wait for the slow coaches on the school sports day. While we were lectured by the head for teaching our children to read. Also not to send them to school with rulers as there were foot marks painted on the school floor, which was how they learnt to measure. One day we found our daughter aged ten out of class playing with the infants in the sand pit. When we complained he said, one day she would make a brilliant nurse. We had to point out if she didn't pass any exams she would not make a brilliant anything. Latter at comprehensive, when I suggest boys who were not brilliant academics, should if they were good at sport be given some sort of badge, colours a my generation called them, he said he did not support elitist ideas. That man went on to head education in his county.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
I blame the parents!!!
- Mr S.Port, London
Immigration, Immigration, Immigration!!
Hospitals, Schools, Police, Transport can not support the increase in immigration and nor can the taxpayer.
- Jane, London
Despite £2 billion spent on 'TRYING TO' improve literacy and numeracy since 1997, they haven't!!!!!
'Children's Secretary Ed Balls is set to publish the Government's plans to raise standards in primary schools this week, after failing for 12 years'. This guy hasn't a clue. Is there an election coming? Need to do something quickly to convince people they are on the ball. It won't work, we are already on to Balls!!
- Alan, carlisle uk
Education, education, education. What about getting back to the basic three, reading , writing, arithmetic, without which you cannot study anything.
This government has failed in everything it has touched over twelve years and I say that having never voted Tory.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
