Pupil Attainment: Time for a Three Rs Guarantee

Schools policy is complex and controversial, partly because it seeks to achieve a wide range of objectives. This paper presents an overview of how well the English schools system is performing against one of its key objectives, attainment, together with some interim conclusions and recommendations.

When asked what schools are for, many people would reply something along the lines of, 'to give young people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life'. There is a great deal of validity in such a common sense formulation. Young people need to develop skills at school such as the ability to read and write to a good standard, and to learn the habits of reasoning, work and inquiry. These skills and abilities are prerequisites of personal independence and for undertaking the next stages of further and higher education. This work has been made possible through the generous support of Cambridge Assessment and Select Education Plc.