Department for Education statistics published today show that just over half of all boys (54 per cent) met the expected standard compared to 62 per cent of girls.
The check was piloted last year and is now statutory for all children at the end of Year 1.
Teaching unions are highly critical of the reading check and have threatened to boycott it.
But the Department for Education said that the results of the check have led to schools being able to identify 235,000 pupils for extra reading support.
The phonics reading test was taken by all children in Year 1 in schools in England during the week of the 18 June.
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