One Thousand Primary Schools 'Failing Pupils

Nearly 1,000 primary schools across the country are underperforming in English and maths, according to official figures.

New primary school league tables based on 11-year-olds' performances in tests show many schools would be classed as failing under targets announced by the Government last month.

The coalition said schools would fail to meet targets if less than 60% of pupils reached Level Four in English and Maths.

They would also fail if the number of children making two levels of progress between the ages of five and 11 (Key Stages 1 and 2) was lower than the national average.

According to the results 926 schools, out of around 11,500 for which results are known, fail to meet this threshold.

Those that have failed to reach the targets risk being taken over or closed.

    Currently half of all 10 and 11-year-old boys who qualify for free school meals are being let down by our education system.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb

The national average for reaching a level four in English this year was 87%, and for maths it was 86% - much higher than the national target.

However, data for a quarter of schools is missing due to a boycott by the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Headteachers which would have affected the results.

It means each table shows gaps in results for schools that did not sit the tests, making it harder for parents to compare results.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the statistics show many primaries were providing a "first-class education".

But he added: "Currently half of all 10- and 11-year-old boys who qualify for free school meals are being let down by our education system.

Primary Schools Failing - Exam

The league tables are based on English and Maths results

"It is unacceptable that after seven years of primary school these children are not at the standard in English and maths that they need to flourish at secondary school.

"Ministers are focused on improving reading ability and raising behaviour standards.

"We are introducing new fair but firm floor standards to identify under-performing schools."

Manuden Primary School in Bishop's Stortford was the best-performing school, with Pilgrim School in Kent the most improved school.

Starks Field primary school, in Enfield, north London, performed the worst, according to the figures.

For the first time this year, results for science tests were not included, because they were scrapped by former Schools Secretary Ed Balls.

:NEWS BY:http://news.sky.com/home

Hugh Grant to testify as UK's News of the World accused of hacking into murder victims' phones

Public revulsion and political fallout increased Wednesday for a Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid amid reports the paper hacked the phones of terror victims and slain schoolgirls.

"It's absolutely disgusting what has taken place," British Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday in promising an investigation of the sordid case.

Speaking at the British Parliament, an angry Cameron said he was certain that "everyone in this house, indeed this country, will be revolted" by the stunning revelations.

The four-year scandal involving Murdoch's News of the World initially focused on its alleged hacking into the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and sports stars.

Actor Hugh Grant said Wednesday on Sky News that he was summoned by London police as part of their probe.

But the tale took a morbid turn with charges that tabloid operatives hacked into the voicemail of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler in 2002, deleting messages from her cell phone.

The illegal actions affected the police probe, leading both investigators and the slain girl's family to believe she was alive.

Investigators into the phone-hacking have also contacted the families of Holly Weiss and Jessica Chapman, two other girls murdered in eastern England in 2002, the Press Association newswire reported Wednesday.

Family members of the victims of the July 7, 2005, London terror bombings were outraged by reports that their phones were possibly hacked after the attack that killed 52 people.

"I just felt so stunned and horrified," said Graham Foulkes, whose son, David, died in the bombings.

"I find it hard to believe someone could be so wicked and so evil and that someone could work for an organization that even today is trying to defend what they see as normal practices."

In addition to the phone-hacking woes, London police confirmed they were investigating illegal payments to its officers from the News of the World in return for inside information.

A visitor leaves the main entrance to the offices of the scandal-plagued News of the World newspaper in London, U.K., Wednesday. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)

"These events show a systematic set of abuses that show the exercise of power without responsibility in our country," said Labour Party leader Ed Miliband.

The politician demanded the immediate resignation of Rebekah Brooks, CEO of the tabloid's parent company News International.

Murdoch, though, stood by Brooks Wednesday.

Advertisers were pulling ads from News of the World in response to the public outcry, including automakers Ford UK and Vauxhall, the Halifax bank and the travel company Virgin Holidays.

"We're no longer talking about politicians and celebrities," Cameron said. "We are talking about murder victims, potentially terrorist victims, having their phones hacked into."

News By: nydailynews.com/