Stand-still on reading standards

Reading standards have barely improved since the 1950s, and any gains have been made at the expense of pupils’ enjoyment of reading, a report has found.

Half a billion pounds has been spent on the National Literacy Strategy ‘with almost no impact on reading levels,’ the report, published this week, said.

It forms part of the Cambridge University-led inquiry into primary education, the Primary Review.

An apparent rise in primary test results was criticised as masking the fact that there had been little actual change.

Evidence showed that the tests had caused stress amongst pupils and resulted in a narrowing of the curriculum, with teachers teaching to the tests.

But there were improvements in maths, especially since 1995, and Britain fared well when compared to other countries in standards of reading and science.