There has been a drop in phonics attainment levels for both disadvantaged pupils, and those with SEND, according to new government figures. The latest results from the phonics screening check show 67 per cent of disadvantaged pupils who took the test for the first time this year reached the expected standard. This is a slight drop from 68 per cent last year. Meanwhile, the percentage of pupils with SEND reaching the expected standard decreased from 44 to 43 per cent. The phonics screening test is taken in year 1, with pupils who do not reach the expected standard taking it again in year 2.
Overall 80 per cent of Year 1 pupils reached the expected standard, the same rate as last year. This means that progress towards returning to the levels of attainment being achieved prior to the coronavirus pandemic has stalled. 82 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in the 2018/19 academic year, but this fell to 75 per cent in 2021/22. This then recovered to 79 per cent in 2022/23, before reaching 80 per cent last year. There has also been a widening of the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils. Taking year 1 and year 2 pupils combined, disadvantaged pupils are now 17 percentage points behind their better-off peers, an increase from 16 percentage points last year.
Looking geographically, there was also a slight increase in the attainment gap between London, which is the highest performing region, and the lowest performing regions of the north east and north west. This now stands at 4 percentage points (82 per cent v 78 percent) up a percentage point from last year. There is also a wide gap between the oldest and youngest pupils in each year group – 86 per cent of those born in September reached the expected standard this year, compared to 73 per cent of pupils born in August. There was also a small reduction in the percentage of boys reaching the expected standard in year 1, down from 77 per cent to 76 per cent. This continues to be lower than the 84 per cent of girls who met the standard.
The full data can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/4e2jd8y6