Seven-year-olds’ writing skills are faltering with primary school test results down for the second year running.

Standards in maths, science and reading have also stalled with critics branding the Key Stage One results published today a “national disgrace”.

Boys fared particularly poorly with a quarter failing to reach the expected writing standard and their achievement lower than girls in most subjects.

By the age of seven children should have reached Level 2 in the subjects assessed, but only 80 per cent achieved that standard in writing this year - down from 82 per cent over the past two years.

The results come from tests taken by 546,900 children across England this summer. The figures show significant geographical trends with seven-year-olds in the north of England and inner city areas performing below average.

David Laws, Liberal Democrat Children, Schools and Families spokesman, accused the Government of losing its way on education.

“It is national disgrace that one in four boys don’t even have the most basic writing skills aged seven,” he said.

“These figures will be very disappointing for ministers as boys continue to perform far worse than girls, and improvement overall has stalled or in some cases is even going backwards. The Government has lost the momentum of improvement in primary school standards and is now unlikely to meet its targets.”

Only 75 per cent of seven-year-old boys reached the expected writing level. In speaking and listening 84 per cent were found to be on track, while girls were ahead with 90 per cent. Boys also continued to lag behind girls in maths with their results dropping for the second consecutive year.

There were few signs of improving standards for both sexes. In maths, 90 per cent of seven-year-olds reached the expected standard, the same as 2006 but one point lower than in the previous year. Science achievement also remained at the same level as last year with 89 per cent of children reaching Level 2.

Lord Adonis, Schools Minister, accepted that the Government needed to push for further improvements but said he was pleased that 90 per cent of children were up to speed in maths and 84 per cent in reading.

“I congratulate schools and teachers who work hard to give children the best possible start to their education,” he said.

“We know that children who reach the expected level in reading, writing and maths at seven years old have a much better chance of leaving primary school with a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy skills. We must do more to raise standards even further, especially in writing.”

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