SAT maths scores soar after Tory reforms toughened up the exams

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SAT maths scores soar after Tory reforms toughened up the exams and told teachers to focus on the basics

  • Larger proportion of Year Six pupils are now meeting the required standard
  • Some 79 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in maths this year 
  • The ‘maths mastery’ approach involves children being taught as a whole class 
  • New SATs reforms have been slowly phased in but attacked by teaching unions

By Eleanor Harding for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

The Tory drive to combat ‘dumbing down’ in schools has fuelled a rise in Year Six SATs results, official figures show.

Data from this spring’s tests shows results have been boosted by an improvement in maths scores – with a larger proportion meeting the required standard.

The results will be seen as a vindication for former education secretary Michael Gove, who toughened up the curriculum in a bid to raise standards.

According to tests carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, our pupils have leapt up nine places in maths and seven in reading over the last three years [File photo]

The ‘maths mastery’ approach involves children being taught as a whole class, using textbooks, and paying more attention to basics such as times tables.

Yesterday, Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘It’s good to see an improvement and the impact of the more traditional methods.

‘What’s more, these improvements have been achieved without spending lots more money. Teachers have moaned about the reforms but they now have to face up to the reality that these methods are more effective.’

The data, released yesterday by the Department for Education, shows 65 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths, up from 64 per cent in 2018. 

The proportion of pupils reaching a ‘higher standard’ in 2019 was 11 per cent, up from 10 per cent in 2018.

Data from this spring’s tests shows results have been boosted by an improvement in maths scores – with a larger proportion meeting the required standard. The results will be seen as a vindication for former education secretary Michael Gove [File photo]

Data from this spring’s tests shows results have been boosted by an improvement in maths scores – with a larger proportion meeting the required standard. The results will be seen as a vindication for former education secretary Michael Gove [File photo]

The increase in pupils performing at the expected standard was driven by a three-percentage-point rise in maths.

Some 79 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in maths this year – up from 76 per cent the year before. 

In grammar, punctuation and spelling, 78 per cent reached the expected standard – the same as in 2018. But in reading, there was a two-percentage-point drop to 73 per cent.

The reforms have been slowly phased in over the last decade and have been constantly attacked by teaching unions. They say the changes have made the tests too hard and are harming children’s mental health.

The data, released yesterday by the Department for Education, shows 65 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths, up from 64 per cent in 2018 [File photo]

The data, released yesterday by the Department for Education, shows 65 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths, up from 64 per cent in 2018 [File photo]

Some teachers have even claimed the new SATs left pupils in tears and have given them nightmares. But today’s results suggest many are leaving primary school with a firm grip of the curriculum.

Recent international league tables showed Britain has shot up the ranks in maths and reading. 

According to tests carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, our pupils have leapt up nine places in maths and seven in reading over the last three years.

SATs are taken by all pupils at the end of primary school so that the government can assess how well schools perform.

Their individual scores are not official qualifications and do not need to be shown to employers. 

Instead, the results are used to assess whether schools are meeting performance targets.

White pupils fall to joint-last place

White pupils have come joint bottom in SATs for the first time in four years.

White and black pupils received the joint-worst results, with only 64 per cent of both groups reaching the expected standards. 

The overall average was 65 per cent. Over the last three years, black pupils were the poorest performers – but this year they improved by one percentage point, while white pupils stagnated.

SATs measure English, maths and science skills in Year Two, Six and Nine. Asian and Chinese pupils are soaring ahead – with 69 and 80 per cent of those groups achieving the benchmark respectively.

Chinese pupils who get free school meals – the official indicator of poverty – still beat the national average, with 75 per cent hitting the expected standard.

Overall, migrant pupils have narrowed the gap with their British-born peers. In 2016 they were four percentage points behind – but this year that was cut to one point.

The data supports claims that some British-born communities lack the same motivation as immigrant children.