GUERNSEY schools are aiming to raise literacy and numeracy standards. Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was a ‘scandal’ that one in four UK children left primary school without being able to read or count properly.

In 2003, 75% of 11-year-olds gained level four or above in the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 SATs for maths and 72% for English. But Guernsey pupils performed even worse, with 74% above level four in maths and only 66% in English.

Deputy Education minister Wendy Morgan admitted that local schools had not reached acceptable levels. And she said that the department was always working to improve standards in schools.

‘I think we have a good education system of which the teaching of literacy and numeracy is a marvellous aspect, but we need to keep improving so that we continue to raise standards,’ said Deputy Morgan.

‘We haven’t reached a standard acceptable but all schools have a validation process to assess their strengths and weaknesses. This is all part of our plan to raise literacy and numeracy levels and improve schools year by year.’

The Education Department said that there had been heavy investment in formulating and delivering numeracy and literacy policies. Ultimately results moving into the secondary school sector, at GCSE and at A-level, were very high compared to national figures.

The department said that, at Key Stage 2, Guernsey had a higher proportion of pupils gaining above level four than in England. It added that those who achieved level two or three were still able to read and write and they continued to receive extra help and support throughout their schooling.

Castel School head teacher Trevor Grayland was not surprised to see statistics showing that Guernsey children fared marginally less well in their SATs exams than their English counterparts.

Children take these exams just before leaving primary school and Mr Grayland put Guernsey’s poorer performance down to the predominance of the 11-plus.

‘There’s a difference in the perception of parents in England and here. The 11-plus takes precedence.

‘In the UK, they have booster classes to prepare for the exams – even on a Saturday. We’re not prepared to do that. The level in our classrooms is the same, if not better than over there.’

The Education Department added: ‘For many parents the 11-plus is a more significant test and so SAT tests may not have the same focus in local schools as they do in England where teaching is often geared towards the SAT tests.’

Deputy Morgan said that Guernsey was not going to aimlessly follow UK initiatives in an effort to raise standards.

‘The UK system seems to be constantly changing, so sometimes it is better if we just wait and see what happens with their changes because sometimes they make mistakes and it saves us repeating them.

‘Obviously we like to keep in line with the UK and implement practices here, especially if they are successful, because both our teachers and pupils migrate between Guernsey and the

UK.’

She added that local education would also remain broad-based and not focus too much on numeracy and literacy.

‘We encourage an emphasis on numeracy and literacy,

but also the more creative elements of the curriculum like music.

‘Mr Blair has spoken about increasing music in the classroom but also wants to improve numeracy and literacy standards. It is easy to make statements like that but you have to have provisions in the classrooms.’