Only one-third of children ‘can pass simple reading tests’
Just One-third of all primary schoolchildren can pass basic literacy tests, according to a new report.
During a trial run of a new reading test for pupils in primary schools, the Department for Education found that 32 per cent of six-year-olds passed the test out of a total of 300 schools.
The plans for the test were announced last year after concerns were voiced that the literacy of youngsters was below average standards.
Following the results of the trial test, it is expected that two-thirds of children will fail the simple exam when it is rolled out to all schools.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "We need to face up to the uncomfortable truth that, despite the hard work of teachers, not enough of our children are able to read to a high enough standard."
He added that the education system will have to adjust its methods in order to tackle the UK's literacy problem.
The Prince's Teaching Institute recently conducted a survey and found that the number of children taking English literature at GCSE level has fallen by 12 per cent in the last four years and that students are opting for easier, vocational areas of learning.
