See how your child’s primary school performed in the 2017 Key Stage 2 SATs tests

More than 2,000 children are attending under-performing schools in Suffolk which have fallen below the government’s floor standard over SATs results.

But the number of primary school pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths has risen in the county, revised official figures confirmed today.

In Suffolk, 57% of 11-year-olds who sat this year’s SATs, also known as national curriculum tests, met Government targets in all three areas, compared with 49% in 2016, according to the Department for Education.

But there was also an eight-point percentage rise nationally for state-funded schools, from 54% to 62%, meaning Suffolk is still five points behind. In Essex, the figure was 63%, up from 56%.

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Critics say the new tests are too narrow at the expense of other subjects and believe schools are now becoming “exam factories”. Others believe children are not overly-tested and should be assessed to ensure they know the fundamentals of English and maths before starting secondary school.

The government insists the tests are raising standards. School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said the results showed teachers and pupils have “responded well to the new more rigorous curriculum”.

Meanwhile, 11 schools in Suffolk, and two in north-east Essex, have been branded as under-performing after failing to meet the Government’s floor standard for performance in 2016/17. Schools are considered to be under-performing if fewer than 65% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, or if they fail to make sufficient progress in the three key areas.

They are:

Forest Academy, Brandon, Suffolk

Bungay Primary School, Bungay, Suffolk

Howard Community Primary School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Ickworth Park Primary School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

West Row Community Primary School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Woolpit Primary Academy, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Kingsfleet Primary School, Felixstowe, Suffolk

Coldfair Green Community Primary School, Saxmundham, Suffolk

Wetheringsett Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Stowmarket, Suffolk

Earl Soham Community Primary School, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Melton Primary School, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Kings Road Primary School, Chelmsford, Essex

Tiptree Heath Primary School, Colchester, Essex

According to this analysis, 2,123 students are being taught at 11 primary schools in Suffolk which failed to meet the floor standard this year. This represents 3.75% of all primary school children. It was just 0.9% in London. Seven are under local authority control. These schools are now at risk of academisation. If they are already an academy, they could receive a new sponsor

Colin Noble, leader of Suffolk County Council, pledged improvements. Schools meet the floor standard if at least 65% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths – or the school achieves sufficient progress score in all three subjects. In order to be below the floor standard, a school must be below both the attainment and progress measures.

Mr Noble said: “We recognise there is more to be done and we are continuing to support schools to drive up standards and improve outcomes for Suffolk pupils.”

It comes the day after Ofsted placed Suffolk at the bottom of the regional table for secondary school inspection ratings.

There were 15 under-performing schools in Norfolk (which also recorded a headline score of 57%) and two in north-east Essex.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s education cabinet member, said: “The results are another fine example of school improvements in recent years.”

The marks required for 2017 on each of the Key Stage Two SATs tests were:

– Maths: 57 out of 110 (down from 60 in 2016)

– Reading: 26 out of 50 (up from 21 in 2016)

– Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 36 out of 70 (down from 43 in 2016)