Tests for 14-year-olds: One in three below English, maths and science standard

One in three pupils aged 14 is failing to reach the required standard in English, maths and science tests, results revealed yesterday.

One in three pupils aged 14 is failing to reach the required standard in English, maths and science tests, results revealed yesterday.

Research also shows that 94 per cent of those who fail their national curriculum tests at this age then go on and fail to get five top-grade GCSE passes at 16.

The results of national curriculum tests for 14-year-olds published yesterday revealed a slight improvement of just one percentage point in both the English and maths tests compared with last year – with 66 per cent reaching the standard in English and 67 per cent in maths.

There is also a glaring gap between the performance of boys and girls in English – with only 58 per cent of boys hitting the target compared with 75 per cent of girls.

They show the Government is a long way short of its target for 75 per cent of youngsters to reach the required standard by 2004. This would be the second big education target ministers had missed. Results of tests for 11-year-olds – due to be published next week – are expected to show they have missed the target of getting 80 per cent to the required standard in English and 75 per cent in maths.

Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education, admitted there had been "little improvement in the results for four years".