Classroom standards in Kent's primary schools have shown no
improvement over last year according to
official league tables published today.

Results published by the Government show that fewer children in
the county in 2009 reached the expected national level in English
compared with the previous year, while the numbers reaching the
expected level in maths and science stayed the same.

Overall, just under a third of pupils in Kent did not reach the
standard expected for their age in maths and English.

It is the first time in several years that the results for
Kent's primary schools have broadly stood still in the three core
subjects.

The results for Key Stage 2 tests taken by 11-year-olds in Kent
mirrors a similar decline nationally.

The percentage of pupils in Kent reaching Level Four in English
- the nationally expected level - was 78 per cent, down one per
cent on 2008 and below the national average of 80 per cent.

In maths, the percentage of pupils reaching Level Four was 75
per cent, the same as it was in 2008 and below the national average
of 79 per cent. Similarly, in science, the percentage reaching
Level Four was 85 per cent, identical to the score in 2008 and
below the national average of 88 per cent.

The percentage of pupils reaching Level Four in both maths and
English also dropped slightly, down one per cent to 68 per cent of
pupils. That was mirrored nationally, where the figure dropped to
72 per cent.

There were mixed results for pupils reaching higher standards in
the three subjects. In English, 28 per cent achieved Level Five, a
drop of one per cent. In maths, the figure was 33 per cent - three
points up on 2008. In science, the figure was 38 per cent - the
same as 2008.

Diana Johnson, the schools minister, said more needed to be done
to “sustain progress”.

She added: “Parents, headteachers and governing bodies will be
rightly concerned that we have not seen an improvement this year
compared to last year and we are too.”

The future of primary testing is uncertain after teaching unions
threatened to boycott them earlier this year.

In Medway, there was also a drop in
standards with fewer children reaching the standards expected for
their age group in maths and English.

In English, 75 per cent of pupils reached Level Four, the
nationally expected level, in 2009 compared with 78 per cent the
previous year.

In maths, the percentage fell by one point to 73 per cent while
the combined score for both subjects dropped to 65 per cent.

There was better news in science, where 85 per cent of pupils
attained the expected level - up one per cent on the previous
year.