Lockdown left children with lowest literacy levels in almost a decade
Literacy among six-year-olds in England has declined to the lowest level in almost a decade after learning was disrupted during pandemic lockdowns.
A quarter of children in Year 1 at state-funded primary schools this year have failed to pass phonics tests, where teachers ask children to read aloud 40 words. New figures published by the Department for Education show that the proportion of children meeting the expected standard has declined from 82 per cent in 2019, the last year the tests were taken, to 75 per cent this year. It is the lowest level recorded since 2014.
Pupils eligible for free school meals saw the biggest drop in the proportion meeting expected standards, declining 9 percentage points to 62 per cent. In contrast, the proportion meeting the expected standard who weren’t from backgrounds known to be disadvantaged fell by four percentage points to 80 per cent.
Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: “These are worrying figures. They are confirming our worst suspicions that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on younger children, and in particular those from poorer backgrounds.”
He said the figures were particularly “alarming” because research has shown that school performance at age five is a significant predictor of outcomes at GCSE level.
Less than 60 per cent hit writing target
Government statistics also showed that only 58 per cent of six-year-olds are meeting the expected standard in writing, down from 69 per cent in 2019. During Key Stage 1, expected standards include using spacing between words, using capital letters and full stops and writing sentences that form a short narrative.
The proportion of six-year-olds meeting the expected standard in reading, which includes being able to read aloud many words quickly and accurately, fell from 75 per cent in 2019 to 67 per cent this year.
In maths, the proportion has fallen to 68 per cent from 76 per cent over the same period.
Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, said the statistics were “clear-cut evidence” of the damaging impact of lockdowns on the learning of younger children.
Figures released in July showed that children at the end of primary school saw a record fall in Sats results in the wake of the pandemic. Only 59 per cent of pupils in England met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths this year compared with 65 per cent the last time the exams were conducted in 2019.
“Today’s data shows why it is so important to keep rolling out our ambitious recovery plan across the country,” a Department for Education spokesman said.
“We know the pandemic impacted children’s learning, and we are investing nearly £5 billion – with over two million high-quality tutoring courses already started – to make sure children can catch up fast, and schools should continue to work with parents to make them aware of the additional support on offer.”
