Record results for primary school pupils

The proportion of 11-year-olds reaching the required standard in maths and reading has risen.

In maths, the number shot up four percentage points to an all-time high of 84 per cent. In reading, the figure rose three points to 87 per cent – equalling the record highest number recorded four years ago.

Four out of five children achieved the required standard in both subjects.

More than 500,000 children in England took the SATs tests in May, the first to be taken following a government review of testing.

For the first time there was no externally marked writing test. Instead, writing was assessed by teachers but – here again – results showed an improvement with 81 per cent reaching the required standard compared with 75 per cent last year when it was externally marked.