One in five children are lagging behind in English and maths by the age of 11
Almost a fifth of children are lagging behind in English and maths by the age of 11, it was revealed today.

Statistics published by the Department for Education show that 18 per cent of pupils in England failed to make the progress expected of them in maths between the ages of seven and 11.

The figures also reveal a continuing gender gap, with boys falling farther behind girls in English, but outperforming girls in maths.

Overall 86 per cent of girls made the expected progress in English compared with 81 per cent of boys - a gap of five percentage points. Last year the gap was four percentage points.

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