YOUNG girls are pulling further ahead of boys in key school tests, official figures have revealed.
Seven in ten primary school girls reached the set standard in reading, writing and maths in this year’s national curriculum tests — known as SATs.
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But just 60 per cent of boys got the same. The gender gap is up from eight percentage points last year.
It has been driven by a widening gap in reading results, the Department for Education statistics show.
MIND THE GAP
Some 78 per cent of girls reached the reading standard this year, compared with 69 per cent of boys.
Last year the gap was eight points.
The biggest gulf is still in writing, where girls outperform boys by 12 points.
In maths, girls are ahead by just one point (79 per cent compared with 78 per cent).
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “There is a long-standing gender gap when it comes to reading and writing, which is certainly a concern and something teachers are constantly attempting to tackle.”
ASIAN KIDS SMARTEST
Figures published in July show that nationally, 65 per cent of pupils met the expected level in each of the three core subjects.
Poorer pupils continue to lag far behind their richer peers.
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Around half (51 per cent) of disadvantaged pupils, those eligible for free school meals, achieved the standard, compared with 71 per cent of more advantaged classmates.
Chinese pupils were the highest achieving group with 80 per cent hitting target in reading, writing and maths.
Some 69 per cent of Asian pupils made it, along with 64 per cent of white and black kids.
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