Key stage 2
Pupils sit formal tests in reading, writing and maths (rwm) at the end of key stage two (KS2) (aged 11 years). These results are a key performance indicator for primary schools.
Key findings for the Lancashire-14 area
- The Lancashire-12 (60%) proportion achieving the expected standard was equal to the North West but lower than the England (61%) performance, as well as that of the neighbouring unitary authority Blackburn with Darwen (62%). However, it was higher than Blackpool (53%). The Lancashire-12 performance has improved from the 2022/23 performance, which was 59%.
- The proportions in Ribble Valley (70%), Chorley (67%) and Wyre (65%) were above the county, regional and national comparators. Attainment in areas with higher levels of deprivation was lower generally and was particularly low in Hyndburn (50%) and Burnley (52%).
- The proportion of free school meal (FSM) pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 Lancashire-12 (42%) was lower that of non-FSM pupils (66%).
- Girls (63%) were generally performing better than boys (56%) in reading, writing and maths at KS2 in the Lancashire-12 area (England = 65% for girls and 58% for boys).
- The proportion of SEND pupils reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at KS2 is significantly lower than non-SEND pupils.
Results for the Lancashire-12 area, year 2023/24
Statistics published by the Department for Education indicates that within Lancashire-12, 60% of KS2 pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics. The Lancashire-12 (60%) proportion was slightly lower than the England (61%) performance, however was similar to the North West (60%) performance, and was lower than the Blackburn with Darwen (62%) performance, however was higher than the Blackpool (53%) performance.
Lancashire-12 consistently improved at the end of KS2 until around 2017/18. After a short period of decline the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the measurement of performance for two years and when testing resumed in 2021/22 the proportion was at its lowest for 6 years. In the subsequent two years there has been a more steady improvement.
Figure 1: Achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, time series
In this chart years 2019/20 and 2020/21 have been removed as no testing was done during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: Department for Education (DfE)
With the proportions reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics largely similar to the England average, there are some groups of pupils that are still under-performing due to deprivation, circumstances and needs.
Analysis of the results by Lancashire-12 districts (table 1) shows the attainment of pupils at the end of key stage 2 was higher in areas with low levels of deprivation. The proportion reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics in Fylde (64%), Wyre (65%), Chorley (67%) and Ribble Valley (70%) was higher than Lancashire-12 and above the regional and national comparators. Attainment in areas with higher levels of deprivation was lower generally and particularly low in Hyndburn (50%), Burnley (52%) and Rossendale (56%).
Table 1: Key stage 2 headline indicator in reading, writing and mathematics (rwm), 2023/24
| Area | Eligible pupils | No. of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics | % reaching the expected standard in rwm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnley | 1,242 | 650 | 52 |
| Chorley | 1,424 | 947 | 67 |
| Fylde | 778 | 498 | 64 |
| Hyndburn | 1,128 | 563 | 50 |
| Lancaster | 1,550 | 923 | 60 |
| Pendle | 1,348 | 807 | 60 |
| Preston | 1,941 | 1,118 | 58 |
| Ribble Valley | 657 | 460 | 70 |
| Rossendale | 874 | 490 | 56 |
| South Ribble | 1,279 | 778 | 61 |
| West Lancashire | 1,271 | 793 | 62 |
| Wyre | 1,171 | 764 | 65 |
| Lancashire-12 | 14,638 | 8,729 | 60 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 2,285 | 1,409 | 62 |
| Blackpool | 1,711 | 912 | 53 |
| Lancashire-14 | 18,634 | 11,050 | 59 |
| North West | 91,105 | 54,508 | 60 |
| England | 656,637 | 401,382 | 61 |
District figures (Burnley to Wyre) are based on place of pupil residence
Source: Department for Education (DfE)
Attainment and free school meals
The link between educational attainment and deprivation is also evident in the results achieved by pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM). Eligibility for FSM indicates that a pupil is from a low-income background. The provision of free school meals has traditionally been a reliable indicator of the extent and degree of child poverty in the United Kingdom.
During 2023/24, the proportion of FSM pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 in Lancashire-12 (42%) was lower than that of non-FSM pupils (66%). The Lancashire-12 FSM pupil's rate was lower when compared with the Blackburn with Darwen (49%), England (46%), North West (45%), and Blackpool (43%) rates.
The Lancashire-12 non-FSM pupil performance (66%) was higher than that of Blackpool and was slightly lower than that of the other comparator areas.
The percentage gap between FSM and non-FSM was wider for Lancashire-12 (+24 percentage points) than all the other comparator areas other than its own constituent districts.
Table 2: Proportion reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at KS2 by FSM eligibility, 2023/24
| Area | FSM (%) | Non FSM (%) | Gap (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnley | 31 | 69 | 38 |
| Chorley | 45 | 72 | 27 |
| Fylde | 42 | 71 | 29 |
| Hyndburn | 42 | 54 | 12 |
| Lancaster | 40 | 67 | 27 |
| Pendle | 47 | 66 | 19 |
| Preston | 39 | 66 | 27 |
| Ribble Valley | 47 | 74 | 27 |
| Rossendale | 38 | 63 | 25 |
| South Ribble | 38 | 67 | 29 |
| West Lancashire | 46 | 68 | 22 |
| Wyre | 51 | 70 | 19 |
| Lancashire-12 | 42 | 66 | 24 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 49 | 67 | 18 |
| Blackpool | 43 | 62 | 19 |
| Lancashire-14 | 45 | 65 | 20 |
| North West | 45 | 67 | 22 |
| England | 46 | 67 | 21 |
District figures (Burnley to Wyre) are based on place of pupil residence
Source: Department for Education (DfE)
Attainment and gender
There are also significant differences in attainment according to gender. Table 3 shows that Lancashire-12 follows a regional and national pattern with girls generally performing better than boys in reading, writing and maths at KS2.
Table 3: Proportion reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at KS2 by gender, 2023/24
| Area | Boys (%) | Girls (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire-12 | 56 | 63 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 59 | 65 |
| Blackpool | 50 | 57 |
| Lancashire-14 | 56 | 63 |
| North West | 56 | 63 |
| England | 58 | 65 |
Source: Department for Education (DfE)
Attainment and special educational needs
Education is a key to a more fulfilling future for children, but for those with special educational needs (SEN) too many barriers can stand in the way of the right education and support.
In 2023/24 at KS2, the attainment gap remained within Lancashire-12 with the proportion of pupils with a statement or EHC plan reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at KS2 (7%) significantly lower than non-SEND pupils (69%), with a percentage point gap of -62. The performance of Lancashire-12 SEND pupils is the same as Blackburn with Darwen, however is also lower than that of the other comparator areas.
The table does not count pupils who were receiving SEN support which did not include an EHC plan.
Table 4: Proportion reaching expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at KS2 by SEND status, 2023/24
| Area | Pupils with no identified SEN (%) | SEN with a statement or EHC plan (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire-12 | 69 | 7 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 73 | 7 |
| Blackpool | 63 | 10 |
| Lancashire-14 | 69 | 8 |
| North West | 71 | 9 |
| England | 72 | 9 |
Source: Department for Education (DfE)
Children and young people dashboard
The children and young people dashboard created as part of the Neighbourhood JSNA, now includes district and ward level data for KS2/ KS4/ Pupil Absence/ Exclusions/ NEET. This resource can be accessed here.
The Department for Education website provides statistics on key stage 2 results for recent years.
Page updated June 2025