Education

Borough's girls outsmart boys in Key Stage 2 results

By Victoria Corbett
December 11, 2009

Girls have consistently outwitted boys in the borough’s Key Stage Two results, scoring in the top five in the country for English, maths and science.

Brainy Wokingham pupils have continued to make the borough proud by scoring above average Key Stage Two results.

However the number of pupils achieving level four, which is the expected result for 11-year-olds sitting the exams, has dropped slightly from last year’s results.

Wokingham Borough Council said this reflects the national picture and results remain above average across the board.

Wokingham pupils are ranked consistently in the top seven in the country for tests taken by 11-year-olds in English, maths and science in May this year.

Results published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families last Tuesday show all the borough’s results are above national averages and remain high, with girls achieving particularly impressive results.

In English, 86 per cent of the borough’s pupils achieved level four compared with the national average of 80 per cent – ranking them third in the country.

The borough’s primary school girls have excelled by being ranked second in the country for level four and above in English, with 91 per cent compared with 85 per cent nationally.

The boys were ranked fifth in the country with 81 per cent compared with 75 per cent nationally.

In maths, the borough’s pupils were ranked seventh in the country with 83 per cent achieving the expected level compared with the national average of 79 per cent.

And the borough’s primary school girls were ranked fifth in the country for level four and above in maths, with 84 per cent compared with 78 per cent nationally.

The boys were ranked seventh in the country for maths, with 83 per cent compared with 79 per cent nationally.

In science, 92 per cent of pupils achieved the expected level in science, which is four per cent higher than the national average of 88 per cent. This places the borough fifth in the country for this subject.

Girls were ranked fourth in the country with 94 per cent achieving the expected level compared with 89 per cent nationally. Boys were ranked fifth in the country with 91 per cent.

In combined English and maths tests, 79 per cent of 11-year-olds achieved the expected level, which is seven per cent higher than the national average – winning the borough sixth place in the national rankings.

Many of the borough’s pupils scored above the expected level by achieving level five.

In this higher grade, the borough came fifth in English, maths and science.

Councillor Rob Stanton, executive member for children’s services, said: “The results published show our primary school pupils are achieving higher than the national average at Key Stage Two and I would like to congratulate them on their achievements.

“Results like these will stand them in good stead as they continue their education in secondary school.

“It can be hard to improve results year or year, especially when starting from an already high base, but we must sustain this.

“We are committed to making further improvements to our Key Stage Two results and will work hard with our schools to achieve this.”

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Most recent user comments 2 of 2

The whole exam system needs overhauling. SATS results are all within pretty narrow bands which don't really distinguish much differnce between schools. The trend continues throughout secondary schools, where GCSE's and A levels have been dumbed down and grades inflated. The reason for all of this of course is that the whole education world is dominated by politically correct teachers and education "experts" who believe all kids have to be seen to be getting the same outcomes/results. How about replacing SATS with the 11 plus - get back to Grammar schools where the most able kids are stretched to their full potential and those who are less able get more focussed support to give them more meaningful and realistic opportunities. Handing out more and more A grades every year doesn't help anyone.

John from Woodley
11/12/2009 at 21:06

The pupils and their parents and teachers deserve praise for these results as it shows how committed everyone has been to achieve the best that they can. However it is becoming increasingly obvious that these SATs are gained at the cost of a real education for the children. Much of Year 6 is spent on drilling the pupils in preparation for the tests. When the pupils get to Secondary school they usually have to be tested again as the Key Stage 2 results often say more about the quality of their teaching than the ability of the child. The National Association of Headteachers and the National Union of Teachers have just completed their surveys of their members in preparation for a boycott of the administration of the tests in 2010. As far as the NUT locally are concerned the support for the boycott is in line with that expressed nationally and is especially strong amongst those teachers directly involved - the Headteachers. The unions hope to arrange more opportunities to meet with parents in Wokingham Market Place in January to distribute publicity material about our campaign and ask the public to sign our petition to put an end to Government-imposed testing of children. Parents have a right to know exactly how well their children are doing in school and what can be done to improve their performance. Test results give a narrow and sometimes inaccurate picture of their potential so that it often appears as if they make little progess in Key Stage 3. We have much better systems that can replace the grind of teaching to the test and better inform parents of their children's progress. SATs are a waste of time and taxpayers' money. They have to stop now! Robert Wilkinson, Division Secretary, Wokingham & District, National Union of Teachers.