North of England 'sees biggest primary improvement'

Staff in primary teacher jobs in the North have helped their schools show the highest regional rate of improvement for English and maths in England, new figures have revealed.

Maths scores for seven to 11-years-olds revealed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) show a nine per cent rise in the number of pupils in the region achieving the required standard in maths last year, compared to 2006.

A spokesperson for the DCSF told the Yorkshire Post: "It's great to see that children in Leeds and Bradford are making such progress in maths.

"Both authorities [… made] it into the top 10 for pupil progress in this important subject."

Meanwhile, test scores for seven to 11-year-olds showed that in Yorkshire three per cent more children increased their English skills by two at least academic levels during the last school year than in 2006-07, the newspaper reports.

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker recently announced that the government is to train a new generation of maths specialists for teaching jobs in England.

Posted by Theo Foulds

Published On 05/03/2010