Almost 1,000 primary schools in England could be closed or taken over for failing to reach new government standards in maths and English and not making enough progress in either subject, league tables published today show.
The tables, compiled from government statistics, reveal that in 962 primaries, fewer than 60% of pupils can write a proper sentence using commas or tackle basic arithmetic in their heads by the time they leave – the standard expected of their age group.
Last month, Michael Gove, the education secretary, said that primaries were underperforming if fewer than 60% of pupils achieved this standard, known as level four, and if pupils had not satisfied new measures of improvement between the ages of seven and 11. These schools could be turned into academies or face "intervention". The previous government said 55% of pupils in every primary should reach level four.
Today's tables are of 10- and 11-year-olds' scores in English and maths tests, known as Sats. The tests are normally taken by pupils at more than 15,000 state schools. However, in May, teachers at about 4,000 primaries – a quarter – boycotted Sats in protest at the way the scores are used in league tables. This year's statistics will be skewed as a result.
