School targets ‘letting down brightest pupils’

The brightest children are being left to fall behind in class because primary schools are too focused on meeting government targets, research suggested today.

One in five pupils fails to make the progress expected of them between the ages of seven and 11 in maths, according to a new analysis of results.

This suggests that 115,000 children are not getting the education they need. A similar pattern emerges in results for reading and writing.

The figures, in a breakdown of official Sats grades by the Conservatives, came as Children's Secretary Ed Balls launched a final push to raise standards in primary schools before next year's general election.

Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb told the Standard: "There is a real worry that the most able are not being properly stretched and that the least able are not getting the appropriate help to enable them to catch up."

Children are expected to progress by two national curriculum levels between the ages of seven and when they take their Sats tests at 11.

But this year's results showed:

* Almost one in five of the brightest pupils who achieved Level 3 in maths at seven failed to fulfil their potential and score Level 5 aged 11. This means about 22,000 pupils fell behind.

* 30 per cent of the pupils who struggled the most aged seven and achieved only a Level 1 in maths failed to progress to a Level 3 by the age of 11.

* In reading and writing, 31 per cent of the brightest seven-year olds who achieved Level 3 failed to keep up their progress and achieve a top grade of Level 5 in their Sats.

Ministers set schools targets for ensuring 11-year-olds achieve Level 4 in maths, English and science tests. League tables rank schools on how many pupils reach the Level 4 targets, piling extra pressure on teachers to achieve results.