Attainment at age 11 by region

Key points

  • At age 11, the proportion of pupils not reaching Level 4 at Key Stage 2 is higher in Inner London than in any other region bar one but has dropped substantially since 1999.
  • Outer London is almost at the same level as the best region.

The proportion of 11-year-olds not reaching Level 4 at Key Stage 2, over time

This section looks at 11 years olds not attaining Level 4 in their Key Stage 2 tests, averaged across results for Maths and English. Level 4 is the level a pupil is expected to have reached in their final year of primary school.

What does this graph show?

The graph above shows the proportion of 11-year-olds not reaching Level 4 at Key Stage 2 (KS2) coming down in all regions of the country, especially in Inner London. In 1999, 38% of children in Inner London did not reach Level 4. By 2009, the figure was 21%.

As a result of this rapid improvement, the gap between Inner London and elsewhere has narrowed considerably since the start of the decade. In 1999, the proportion of children not reaching Level 4 at KS2 in Inner London was 5% higher than the second worst region. By 2009, the gap between Inner London and the best region was lower than this at just 3%.

With 20% of its 11-year-olds not reaching Level 4 at KS2, Outer London is almost level with the best region. This proportion has decreased sharply from 30% since 1999. The overall figure for London is now 20%.

Find out how different boroughs compare on this measure here.

Find out how attainment at age 11 is affected by whether pupils are eligible for free school meals here.

Data used

DCSF Performance Tables

Figures only include pupils attending state-funded schools.

Indicator last updated: 13 July 2010

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Glossary

Level 4 at KS2:

an educational standard for 11-year-olds.

Outer London:

Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bromley, Bexley, Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Waltham Forest

Inner London:

Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster

Read all glossary definitions

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