On entering government in 1997, Tony Blair and David Blunkett set about transforming primary education. It was a sorry state of affairs that we inherited. In Maths and English, only 59% and 65% of pupils respectively, were reaching the expected level of learning outcomes in these core subjects. When we left government in 2010, the figures were 79% and 80%. This was great progress and indeed more needs to be done to raise achievement and aspiration for all young people. There is cross party agreement on this. We can all agree that raising standards during primary education increases the life chances for young people in later life. The disagreement comes in what we mean by ‘standards’ and how we achieve system wide improvements.
Yesterday the government announced its plan for primary school assessment and accountability. These plans fall short of the mark if they are, as Ministers say, going to raise standards in primary schools.
First, on the issue of schools standards.
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