DONCASTER'S seven-year-olds are performing below the national average in core school subjects.
Provisional Key Stage 1 results released by the Government reveal that although the borough out-performed the rest of South Yorkshire it still remained below many other areas of the country.
Doncaster girls have out-performed boys in the SATS test
s which cover maths, science, reading and writing.
The worst performing area for Doncaster pupils was writing with 77 per cent of children achieving level 2 - the Government's basic level needed for children to leave primary schools with a solid foundation.
However Doncaster's mayor Martin Winter said that he was pleased with the results and that they will be improved.
Reading and science were two per cent below the national average overall at 82 per cent and 87 per cent respectively.
Maths was one per cent down on the national average at 89 per cent.
However, results showed girls in the area gaining above average scores in many subjects.
Boys remained behind in all subjects with writing seven per cent below the national average.
Doncaster's results overall were the same as the Yorkshire average - which was still below the national figure.
Children's Minister Kevin Brennan said: "There are no quick fixes but more can be done, especially for children who are really struggling with basic literacy and numeracy, and for those children who, with a bit of help, could reach the next level up.
"Teaching early reading through phonics is now a central feature of the primary curriculum and we are expanding the Every Child a Reader programme. Research shows it is having an incredible impact on helping those children who are really struggling and narrowing the gap between boys and girls."
Mr Winter said: "I am pleased that Doncaster has come out on top in South Yorkshire and we have maintained our good performance.
"We will never become complacent and I am determined to drive the results up further. Education has been my number one priority since I became Mayor and with our Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
programme, with the Government's support, we are transforming the
learning environment for our young people across the borough."
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