WHEN they leave primary school aged 11, children are expected to have basic levels of competency in English and maths.
For years, Nottingham schools have been criticised for falling well below national standards, with more than a third not reaching expected levels in 2007.
Fast forward five years and the situation is changing.
This summer, for the first time, exactly three-quarters of children started secondary school having achieved the expected level (level four) in the Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) in English and maths, according to Key Stage 2 figures released yesterday by the Department for Education.
The figures show that in 2007, 64 per cent of children reached the mark. This rose to 65 per cent the following year and 67 per cent in 2009. It remained the same in 2010 before climbing to 71 per cent last year and now 75 per cent this year.
It still leaves the city below the national average of 79 per cent – and equal 140th of 154 local education authorities.
The city council is determined that this picture will continue to improve.
Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "The city has made some major improvements over recent years, with eight per cent more children reaching expected levels in English and maths. That is down to more focused schools."
Mr Mellen added he hoped the city could continue to close the gap on national averages.
He said: "We don't just want to remain where we are. There have been improvements, which may well level off. But the national average has improved by just seven per cent over four years. We want to see 80 per cent of children getting expected levels and get closer to the national average.
"We will continue to work hard with schools which aren't doing well and ensure that the many children who arrive in our schools halfway through their primary school years and speak little English have the right amount of support."
The figures show that girls in Nottingham outperformed boys, with 79 per cent reaching level four, compared to 71 per cent of boys. It was the best ever results for both girls and boys.
Meanwhile, improvements were also made in Notts, with 82 per cent of 11-year-olds reaching the benchmark, up by five per cent from 2011 and ten per cent in 2007.
Girls in the county also outperformed boys – 84 per cent and 79 per cent respectively.
Notts County Council committee chairman for children and young people's services, Councillor Philip Owen, said: "These figures are a real credit to pupils, teachers and parents who support them.
"We have seen steady improvement over several years in Nottinghamshire and the county is now placed comfortably within the top third of all local authorities in England for primary education.
"We shall continue to support our schools to make yet further improvements, with emphasis upon the small minority which most need our help, in order that all our children reach their full potential."
Many primaries did better than the national average when it came to the percentage of children reaching the expected levels in English and maths combined.
These included Greenfields Community School in The Meadows, where 80 per cent did so.
Head teacher Terry Smith said: "The school's results were excellent, as were those for the entire city. It is all down to the hard work and dedication of staff in the schools and the children, with the support of parents. It is very important we give children the best start possible to life."
Blue Bell Hill Primary in St Ann's also recorded good results, equalling the national average, an improvement of its mark of 73 per cent in 2011.
Head teacher Jo Bradley said: "All schools in the city are working hard to achieve the best for pupils, which is shown by these results.
"I am really pleased with these results; they are a credit to everyone. However, the exams themselves do put children at a young age under a considerable amount of pressure."
Unions have also raised questions over the validity of Sats for young children.
Ivan Wels, joint division secretary for the National Union of Teachers in Notts, said: "It is very pleasing to see that local schoolchildren are performing well. Congratulations to them. However, the tests are unfair on them. Primary education shouldn't be about testing children in this way. It should be more about preparing children for life. Schools shouldn't be judged according to their results."
But parent Becky Humber, who has two children at Glenbrook Primary in Bilborough, believes the marks are important.
She said: "It is encouraging to see Nottingham has done well in these results. As a parent, if you are moving to an area, you take into account how well the schools are performing."
See the county results at thisisnottingham.co.uk.
