The Department for Education (DfE) has published the confirmed performance data from this summer’s key stage 2 assessments.
Nationally, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics: 65% of girls and 57% of boys. Girls made more progress in reading and writing while boys made more progress in mathematics. The attainment gap between pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) and other pupils has widened by 1% compared to 2016, with 43% achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics this year. Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) had the biggest attainment gap, with just 18% reaching the expected standard in all three subjects.
511 primary schools fell below the floor standard and 524 were identified as 'coasting'. For more information on what this means, see NGA’s guidance on powers of intervention.
Separately, the Education Policy Institute and the UCL Institute of Education have published research comparing the performance of English primary schools in mathematics with top performing nations internationally. It found that “while England compares reasonably well with other nations at primary, this hides a long tail of underperformance amongst low attaining pupils”. Read the report in full (external link)
Access the DfE’s analysis of the 2017 key stage 2 data and primary school performance tables here (external link)