I AGREE with Chris Woodhead that the current key stage 2 tests in English do not give a good indication of a child’s ability to read.
The problem is that if children score 35 for writing, including spelling and handwriting, they would need to get less than half from reading to secure a level 4. Children were achieving level 4 because they could write good stories but not necessarily because they were able to read.
If the Government wants to ensure that all 11-year-olds are literate then there has to be a separate reading test where the teacher hears the child read and undertakes some kind of analysis.
Iain Bendrey, Address supplied
