Ark's youngest pupils outstripping national average

Thursday 24th September 2015

Official figures released today by the Department for Education on key stage 1 results (pupils aged seven) and phonics checks show that Ark achieved results well above the national average on every headline measure.

Across Ark’s primary schools, the average percentage of key stage 1 students achieving the top results (at least a level 3) in reading was 35%, against a national average of 32%. 20% of Ark pupils achieved the same level in writing against a national average of 18% and 31% attained a level 3 or above in mathematics compared to a national average of 26%.

The proportion of Ark key stage 1 pupils achieving a level 2b – considered a good “pass” –  in reading and writing was 85%, three percentage points above the national average. The percentage of Ark pupils achieving the same level in writing was 74% against a national average of 72%.

Ark’s results on the phonics checks, which test year 1 pupils on their ability to ‘decode’ letters and their relationship with spoken language, were also very high. Across the network, 88% of students passed the check, two points higher than last year’s results and well above the national average of 77%.

Three Ark schools achieved a perfect pass rate, with every single pupil passing the check. At Ark Priory Primary Academy in Acton, which first opened only two years ago, 100% of the school’s first ever cohort passed, as did every pupil at Ark Globe Academy in Southwark and Ark Conway Primary Academy (for the second year running).

In addition, the number of Ark primary pupils achieving top grades (level 3) was up significantly from 2014. 35% of pupils got at least a level 3 in reading, up from 29%. 20% achieved this level in writing, up from 16%, and 31% in mathematics, up from 25%.

Venessa Willms, Director of Primary at Ark, said: “Across every headline measure, Ark’s primaries are providing some of the best starts in the country for young children – through language acquisition skills, mathematics and literacy.

“The first few years of a child’s education are critical, so it is hugely encouraging to see that so many of our pupils are acquiring the basic skills which will drive their lifelong learning.”