Official figures published by the Department for Education (DfE, 2023) show that in 2023 79% of pupils met the expected standard in the phonics screening check in year 1 – up from 75% in 2022.
Meanwhile, 89% of pupils met the expected standard by the end of year 2, up from 87%.
However, levels have yet to recover after dipping during the pandemic. There were no assessments in 2020 or 2021, but the year 1 pass rate in 2019 was 82% while the year 2 pass rate was 91%. The table below shows the evolution of phonics check outcomes in years 1 and 2 since 2012.
The phonics screening check is a statutory assessment for year 1 pupils (age 6) that tests whether they have met the expected standard in phonic decoding. All state-funded schools must administer the check, with pupils who do not meet the standard taking part again at the end of year 2.
Teachers administer the check one-on-one and record whether a pupil’s response to each of the 40 words is correct. A pass is usually around 32.
The check was introduced in 2012 when only 58% of year 1 pupils met the expected standard.
The new figures show that the disadvantage gap in phonics has closed since 2022, but likewise remains wider than pre-pandemic levels.
- In 2023, 67% of disadvantaged year 1 pupils met the standard compared to 83% of their wealthier peers – a gap of 16%.
- In 2022, the disadvantage gap was 18% (62% vs 80%) and in 2019 the gap was 13% (71% vs 84%).
- In 2012 when the test was introduced, the disadvantage gap was 17% (45% vs 62%).
When broken down by month of birth, the year 1 results show that September-born pupils are consistently the best performers (85%) and August-born pupils the worst (72%) – an unsurprising fact but one that should be kept in mind, nonetheless (see table below).
Elsewhere, the gender gap remains largely unchanged since the test was introduced – in 2023, 82% of year 1 girls achieved the standard compared to 76% of boys.
Schools minister Nick Gibb pointed to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) which was published earlier this year and showed England in fourth place for primary reading proficiency out of 43 countries that tested children of the same age.
He also highlighted the government’s £60m English Hubs programme which was rolled out in 2018 aimed at developing expertise in teaching reading and phonics in schools.
Mr Gibb said: “Teaching children to read using phonics has been a key part of this government's focus on driving up school standards over the past 13 years, and our children are now the best readers in the west.
“(These) results reflect the hard work of our teachers and show strong progress as pupils continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
The DfE has also published wider key stage 1 figures showing increased attainment in all subjects compared to 2022.
- 68% of pupils met the standard in reading, up from 67%.
- 60% of pupils met the standard in writing, up from 58%.
- 70% of pupils met the standard in maths, up from 68%.
- 79% of pupils met the standard in science, up from 77%.
When it comes to disadvantaged pupils, the gaps have closed this year across reading, writing and maths.
- In reading, attainment increased from 51% to 54% for disadvantaged pupils and from 72% to 73% for other pupils.
- In writing, attainment increased from 41% to 44% for disadvantaged pupils and from 63% to 65% for other pupils.
- In maths, attainment increased from 52% to 56% for disadvantaged pupils and from 73% to 75% for other pupils.
Commenting on the figures, Tiffnie Harris, primary and data specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “This improvement in reading ability is testament to the dedication of the incredible teachers and leaders in our primary schools and the tireless support they give to children.
“These results have been achieved at a time when schools are under enormous budget pressures and face a worsening recruitment and retention crisis. To take things to the next level, we need greater investment in early years and primary education and in our superb education workforce. At present, government funding is impossibly tight and teacher shortages are critical.”
- DfE: Academic year 2022/23: Key stage 1 and phonics screening check attainment, 2023: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-1-and-phonics-screening-check-attainment/2022-23