What is the research evidence on writing? - Department for Education

Twenty eight per cent of pupils achieved level 5 or above, with girls outperforming
boys (35 per cent compared to 22 per cent). Writing was <strong>the</strong> element with <strong>the</strong>
lowest performance compared to reading, ma<strong>the</strong>matics and science (DfE, 2012b).
Writing compared to reading
As with Key Stage 1, additional internal DfE analys<strong>is</strong> compared <strong>the</strong> 2011 Key Stage 2
reading and writing levels of pupils. Overall, <strong>the</strong> same pattern that we saw in Key
Stage 1 <strong>is</strong> repeated at Key Stage 2.
The table below shows <strong>the</strong> breakdown of levels achieved by pupils in Key Stage 2
reading and <strong>the</strong>ir corresponding Key Stage 2 writing levels:
Table 7
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
KS2 Reading Levels by KS2 Writing Levels
A B N 3 4 5
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Reading Level
Source: DfE internal analys<strong>is</strong> using NPD, 2011
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level A
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level B
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level N
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level 3
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level 4
KS2 Engl<strong>is</strong>h Writing Level 5
Pupils achieving level B (working below <strong>the</strong> level assessed by <strong>the</strong> tests) are reported
in th<strong>is</strong> way in both reading and writing. For pupils who are achieving an A (absent) or
N (no test level awarded) <strong>the</strong>re <strong>is</strong> a spread of results that <strong>the</strong>y achieve in writing.
There <strong>is</strong> also a spread of results from pupils achieving level 3 and above in reading
levels compared to writing results. For example, out of <strong>the</strong> pupils achieving a level 4
(<strong>the</strong> expected level) in reading, 68 per cent achieve <strong>the</strong> same level in writing, with 25
per cent achieving a level 3, and 6 per cent achieving level 5 in writing. Of pupils
achieving level 5 in reading, 60 per cent achieved a lower level in writing.
Regarding <strong>the</strong> achievement of certain groups of pupils, fewer boys than girls are
likely to perform as well in writing as <strong>the</strong>y do in reading. Pupils who have a SEN and
pupils eligible for FSM are less likely to perform as well in writing as <strong>the</strong>y do in
reading compared to non SEN pupils and non FSM pupils respectively.
Children whose first language was ‘o<strong>the</strong>r than Engl<strong>is</strong>h’ are slightly more likely to
perform as well in writing as <strong>the</strong>y do in reading compared to children whose first
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