The recently published Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) shows we have performed well compared to other countries. On average, pupils in England achieved significantly above the international mean.
More generally, improving standards of literacy is one of this Government’s top priorities. We have seen dramatic improvements in the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving the target level 4 and above in reading. In 2007, 84 per cent. of pupils achieved this level—a rise of 17 percentage points compared to 1997. A third of 11-year-olds achieved the higher level 5 in reading, the standard expected of 14-year-olds.
Level 4 Level 5 1997 67 20 1998 71 23 1999 78 31 2000 83 42 2001 82 42 2002 80 38 2003 81 42 2004 83 39 2005 84 43 2006 83 47 20071 84 48 1 Amended data.
Although these results are the best ever, we know that we can and must do more. We have a strong platform for securing further improvements. The Children’s Plan, published on 11 December sets out that vision and our goals for achieving world-class standards.
Every primary school is now using the renewed Primary Framework which puts phonics at the heart of the teaching of reading. We are also introducing nationally the Every Child a Reader (ECAR) programme. By 2011 this programme will provide 30,000 six-year-olds who have difficulty reading with intensive one-to-one tuition each year. Results from the first year of the pilot, involving some of the most disadvantaged children, showed they made well over four times the normal rate of progress in reading as a result of the programme.