SOUTH Tyneside’s education chief today insisted reading and writing standards in the borough’s primary school’s are “among the best in the country”.
Literacy levels at schools in the UK have come under fire from education watchdog Ofsted for under-performing.
Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says progress in English has stalled, and our children are being falling behind youngsters in Europe.
But Coun Jim Foreman, South Tyneside Council’s lead member for children, young people and families, says achievement levels in South Tyneside are good but constantly under review.
In December, the Gazette reported how primary school pupils across the borough scored top marks in the 2011 Key Stage Two exams, which test children in English, maths, reading and writing.
Coun Foreman said: “Results have shown our children perform well and are among the best in the country.
“You can never be complacent and you have to strive to be even better, and we do that in South Tyneside. It does not take any national push for us to keep aiming to improve.”
In 2011, South Tyneside’s secondarys also enjoyed top results. All nine were above average for achieving five or more GCSEs at A* to C, while six were above average for GCSEs in English and maths.
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