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More six-year-olds pass the phonics reading check

Teaching unions have renewed calls for a ban on the phonics reading test, following the publication of the provisional results of this year's check.

The results from the second year of the test, published yesterday, show a rise in the number of six-year-olds meeting the standard expected for their age, which is up by 11 percentage points.

However, there was no change in the attainment gap between girls and boys, and between children eligible for free schools meals and their peers.

Sixty-nine per cent of six-year-olds scored 32 out of 40 in the test, compared with 58 per cent last year.

However, 31 per cent of children – 177,000 six-year-olds - who took the test were identified as being below the expected reading level for their age and will now receive extra support.

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