Drive on school standards produces new target

National targets for 14-year-olds in English, maths and science are to be introduced as part of the Government's drive to raise standards in secondary schools.

Ministers said they had reduced a planned target to be reached in maths – a move that led teachers' leaders to claim this was a recognition of the dire shortage of specialist maths teachers in secondary schools. Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, said 75 per cent of all 14-year-olds would be expected to reach the required standard for their age in English, maths and information technology by 2004. The target for science is 70 per cent. A consultation paper had suggested the maths target rate be 80 per cent.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "I welcome the reduction in the test targets in recognition of the serious teacher shortage, which is having a disproportionate effect on maths and English for 11 to 14-year-olds."

The Department for Education insisted the change had only been made to bring maths into line with English and that additional targets for 85 per cent to reach the required standard in maths and English by 2007 remained the same.

At present only 64 per cent reach the required standard in English, 65 per cent in maths and 59 per cent in science.

Ms Morris said the Government would also be revealing new targets for 11-year-olds.