Coventry schools are aiming high, and standards of attainment are improving. The results of the National Curriculum test for 11 year olds (Key Stage 2) show that Coventry schools are improving at a similar rate to schools nationally in English and science, and at a faster rate in maths. The results also show that we are out-performing similar authorities in the West Midlands in all three subjects.

Councillor Joe Clifford, Chair of Educational Excellence Policy Team, says:

"Coventry schools are doing well and we are out-performing similar authorities in the area. The government is expecting a faster rate of improvement than ever before, and these results will build a firm foundation for us to reach the national targets that have been set."

Standards for attainment of 7 year olds (key stage 1) in Coventry schools are also very good and improving each year. These high standards attained for 7 year olds provide a foundation on which schools can achieve even greater improvements, to meet the government’s ambitious targets for literacy and numeracy by 2002. The National Literacy and Numeracy strategy, in which all schools are taking part, is helping them to raise pupil standards of attainment in maths and English.

The government has set national targets in literacy and numeracy for primary schools. They are that 80% of 11 year olds will attain level 4 (the expected level) in literacy and 75% will attain Level 4 in numeracy by 2002. These ambitious targets have also been set by Coventry LEA, Schools have to measure results in key areas of the curriculum, in particular literacy and numeracy.