Rochdale pupils lagging behind national average in English

Date published: 30 October 2009

A quarter of Rochdale pupils start secondary school with poor English.

The results of teacher assessments of 11-year-olds are the third worst in the North West with 75% reaching the expected standard for their age (level 4).

And boys are lagging way behind girls — just 71% hitting the target compared with 79%.
The gap widened slightly at age 14, and English results for that age group are also behind the national average.

Official statistics released this week show that 79% of 11-year-olds nationally made the grade in English.

The figures were 80% for maths (Rochdale 77%) and 86% in science (82%).

Teacher assessments are now the only means of measuring pupils’ ability in the core subjects at 14 after SATs were scrapped for this group last year.

They show that 77% reached the standards for their age (level 5) in English (74% in Rochdale), maths 79% (76% in Rochdale) and science 78% (71% in Rochdale).

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: “It’s clear to see that standards in our schools have been transformed over the last decade. This is down to the hard work and dedication of teachers, and a constant focus on getting the basics right.

“Test results show that thousands more children are getting the firm foundations they need in English, maths and science than in 1997, and the teacher assessment figures back this up.

“The figures show that at age 11, more children are reaching the expected level in the classroom for maths and science, and the percentage reaching level 4 in English has stayed the same.

“And at 14, more pupils are reaching level 5 in English and science, but maths has remained constant.”