School results spark alarm

Key Stage Two test results, from exams sat this year by 11-year-olds, have shown one of the biggest year-on-year increases in the UK according to the annual OFSTED results - but the figures have still sparked alarm among councillors.

The results show Doncaster pupils out-performed other students in South Yorkshire in English, maths, reading, science and writing. The town is also among the most improved nationally for 2006-2007.

But only 64 per cent of pupils in Doncaster primary schools reach the Government's expected Level Four in the writing test and just 79 per cent go to secondary school with the required level in reading skills.

Just 77 per cent of children leave their primary schools at Level Four or above in maths.

Doncaster has improved over the past year - the figure for English is three per cent up and in maths there is an improvement of two per cent.

Independent councillor Mick Maye, a member of Doncaster's Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Schools, Children and Young People, said: "Though the trend has improved, I don't see how the council can be satisfied with these results. The Government and council seem to be trying to put a positive spin on these figure, but they speak for themselves and they are very disturbing."

Deputy Mayor Margaret Ward defended Doncaster's performance.

She said: "It is unfortunate some choose to focus on the negative. Doncaster is now either at or above national average at key stage two for all but one subject where we need to gain just another one per cent.

"We have continued to climb up the league tables showing our commitment to education in Doncaster is really starting to show. While there will always be more work to do, well done to all our pupils, teachers and parents."

Figures show that of pupils who fail to reach Level Four or above on leaving primary school, only 11 per cent achieve five or more A* to C passes at GCSE.

Lesley Ward, Doncaster's Association of Teachers and Lecturers representative, said: "I think the teachers and children have worked very hard. We've always had children who find academic subjects hard.

"However I do feel that since the SATs came in children are tested too much."