MPs call for review of literacy teaching

Around one fifth of 11-year-olds still do not reach the standard
of reading expected at their age, MPs have warned.

The Education and Skills Committee report on teaching children
to read says that the figure is unacceptable and calls on the
government to carry out an ‘immediate review’ of the
reading methods used in primary schools.

The committee goes on to suggest that the actual figure could be
worse as its deduction was made by taking key-stage test figures at
face value when such data can be skewed by factors like teachers
‘teaching to the test’.

It concludes by calling for an independent evaluation of trends
in reading standards among primary school children to find out the
number of children experiencing difficulties and the reasons behind
it.

Teaching Children to Read from: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmeduski.htm