1.40pm - SATs results revealed for Gloucestershire

AROUND a third of pupils in Gloucestershire are leaving primary school without grasping the basics in the three Rs – reading writing and arithmetic.

The publication SATSs tests results comes as controversy continues to rage over delays and standard of marking this year, leading many head teachers to question the reliability of the figures.

Data released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families showed that 66 per cent of 11-year-olds in the county are reaching the required standard in reading, writing, and maths, although this is above both the regional and national average of 61 per cent.

The statistics also reveal that schoolboys in Gloucestershire are continuing to underachieve, with just 62 per cent reaching level 4, the grade expected of the age group, compared to 71 per cent of girls.

However, the figures do reveal that year-on-year attainment continued to improve, with an overall rise of one per cent to 77 per cent of pupils achieving level 4 or above in maths and English – in line with the national trend.

But this is down to a two per cent increase in the proportion of girls in the county making the grade in both core subjects, which rose to 78 per cent compared to last year. Boys showed no improvement, remaining at 76 per cent.

The Government has a target to get 85 per cent of 11-year-olds in England up to Level 4 in English and maths.

No year-on-year comparable figures were available for the proportion of children in the county reaching the required level in science.

But for 2008, the statistics show that 90 per cent of all pupils in Gloucestershire made the grade in the subject – above both the South West and England average of 88 per cent.

However, the results have been overshadowed by delays caused by problems with marking and inputting data.

Head teachers have said the Government's decision to publish the outcome of the school tests “beggars belief” following the marking shambles.

They warned that there is still widespread concern about late or missing results and inaccuracies in marking, and suggested ministers were issuing the results 'prematurely'.

Figures show in Gloucestershire, that the results for the three subject areas of English, maths and science were calculated on the scores of 97 per cent of all schoolchildren, which is below the usual sample of up to 99.9 per cent, suggesting the county had not escaped the marking fiasco.

The Government has defended the marking procedure.

For a full report on the SATs results see The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo tomorrow.