More pupils in England are reaching the highest standards of reading, writing and maths than last year, data from this year’s key stage 2 assessments – better known as SATs – shows.

The statistics also show that typically the longer a primary school has been an academy, the better its results. 71% of pupils in converter academies open for 8 or more years met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to 66% of pupils in those open for one year.

Results in sponsored academies – those that were typically converted due to previous poor performance – have also increased nationally, driven by greater improvements in those that have been open for longer.

Statistics published today also show:

• 65% pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined), and 11% pupils reached the higher standard – meaning they are working at a level beyond that expected of primary pupils – in all three subjects, up from 10% last year
• 85% of pupils who met the phonics standard in year 1 attained the expected standard in reading at the end key stage 2
• The attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed by 13% since 2011 based on the Disadvantage Gap Index
• The attainment gap in reading, writing and maths (combined) between pupils whose first language isn’t English and those who speak it as their first language has almost disappeared – going down from 4 percentage points in 2016 to just 1 percentage point
• Sponsored academies open for two and five years have shown considerable improvement – each seeing 3 percentage point improvements
• London remains the best performing part of the country with Richmond upon Thames the best performing borough

This data has been released after initial data, published in July, showed 65% of pupils meet demanding standards in reading writing and maths – up from last year.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:

We want all pupils to leave primary school equipped with the knowledge and skills that will help them to be successful in the rest of their education and beyond – that’s why I’m pleased to see an increase in pupils reaching the very highest standards at the end of primary school.

The fact that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has significantly reduced since 2011 illustrates how the programme of reforms we’ve put in place since 2010 is helping to level the playing field.

We reformed Key Stage 2 tests in 2016 to make sure they assessed schools’ performance in equipping pupils to understand the new, improved primary curriculum. These results are testament to the hard work of pupils, parents and teachers.

This year’s results are the fourth to be released following the introduction of more rigorous assessments in summer 2016, bringing primary education in line with the best in the world.

The attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers has fallen between 2011 and 2018. And in 2016 England achieved its highest ever score in the international PIRLs literacy study. This follows a greater focus on reading in the primary curriculum, and a particular focus on phonics.

National Curriculum Assessments – better known as SATs – are intended as a measure of school standards, as opposed to individual pupils. They enable government to hold primary schools to account for their performance and also highlight where pupils may need additional support when they arrive in secondary school

The Environment Agency has started weekly spot sampling at a number of points in Bridlington Bay, including at permitted effluent discharges, the harbour and the Gypsey Race to try and get a better understanding of the water quality.

It also plans to do a day of intensive sampling across a full tidal cycle at numerous set points along Bridlington North and South Bays to provide a better understanding of bathing water quality.

The monitoring is in addition to the weekly compliance sampling already taken from each bay as part of the Environment Agency’s national bathing water quality sampling.

Bathing water quality at North Bay is classified as ‘Good’ but South Bay dropped from ‘Good’ to ‘Sufficient’ in the 2018 season.

The samples collected from the harbour and Gypsey Race will aim to identify their connectivity with the bathing water quality in the bay.

Claire Campbell, of the Environment Agency, said:

We are carrying out a monitoring programme in Bridlington to look at bathing beaches and the things that affect water quality.

Where bacteria levels are high in a sample we will undertake further analysis to try and identify the source of the bacteria.

Over time we will build a data set to better understand what impacts on bathing water quality, from people, birds and dogs to combined sewers, drains, tides, as well as the weather and industrial processes.

We will also continue to work with landowners, partners including local authorities and Yorkshire Water to make improvements where we can.

Ms Campbell added that the public also has a part to play in keeping bathing waters clean, including by not feeding seagulls, cleaning up after dogs and disposing of litter correctly.

Everyone has a part to play in protecting and improving our great bathing waters. If we continue to work together to reduce pollution, we can improve water quality and ensure our bathing waters and coastal communities continue to thrive.

Yorkshire remains an outstanding place for bathing water quality, with 17 of the region’s 19 bathing waters rated either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ for the 2019 season.

Whitby has some of the best bathing water in the country, being classified as ‘Excellent’. It has met the highest standards since 2005 and has also once again achieved Blue Flag status.

Other beaches with bathing water classified as ‘Excellent’ are Cayton Bay and Runswick Bay. Scarborough North Bay, Filey, Sandsend and Robin Hood’s Bay are all rated ‘Good’.

Up the coast, Saltburn has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time this year. Its bathing water quality has been classified as ‘Excellent’ for the last three years.

To check bathing water quality and for further information about what affects it, click here

At around 07:20 hrs on 22 August 2019, a passenger on a train travelling from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria reported to the driver that a door was open on the non-platform side at Hockley station. The door had been open in traffic for about 23 minutes, while the train travelled 16 miles (26 km) at speeds of up to around 80 mph (128 km/h).

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

The safety digest will be made available on our website in the next few weeks.

Published 5 September 2019

Millions of allergy sufferers across the country will be protected by a new law laid in Parliament today, requiring food businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packed for direct sale foods.

Following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the teenager who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette, the government confirmed stronger laws would be implemented to protect those with allergies and give them greater confidence in the food they buy.

Currently, food prepared on the premises in which it is sold is not required to display allergen information on the label, meaning allergy sufferers sometimes lack confidence buying food to eat whilst they are out.

A Statutory Instrument (SI) will be laid in Parliament later today (5 September 2019) tightening the rules by requiring these foods to carry a full list of ingredients – known as ‘Natasha’s Law’.

Food Minister Zac Goldsmith said:

This is a significant moment for the millions of allergy sufferers in England and a fitting tribute to Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse’s tireless campaigning.

The introduction of this law will make it easier for allergy sufferers to make clear, safe choices when buying food.

The family of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse said:

This is a hugely significant day for allergen sufferers in this country. The introduction of Natasha’s Law brings greater transparency about what people are buying and eating, lays down new standards for the food companies, and highlights the battle against the growing epidemic of allergies.

Natasha was a spirited campaigner for justice and today she is smiling down on us knowing that this law well help ensure others do not suffer in the way our family does, and always will, following the loss of our beloved daughter and sister.

We would like to thank ministers for their unflinching support in doing the right thing on behalf of all people with allergies.

‘Natasha’s Law’ will come into force in October 2021, giving businesses a transition period to prepare for the new rules. The Food Standards Agency will publish information for industry on October 1 to help ensure that businesses of all sizes can prepare and adapt to these changes.

The Food Standards Agency Chair, Heather Hancock said:

This is an important and welcome step towards our ambition for the UK to become the best place in the world for people who have food allergies and intolerances.

I encourage businesses large and small to work with the Food Standards Agency to get this right. Success will mean more choice and better protection for the millions of people – our families, friends, colleagues and neighbours across the UK – who have food allergies.

The reforms cover labelling requirements for foods that are prepared and packed on the same premises from which they are sold – such as a packaged sandwich or salad made by staff earlier in the day and placed on a shelf for purchase.

Currently these foods, known as pre-packed directly for sale, are not required to have product labels which provide information on the full ingredients or the allergens contained.

Food businesses across the country have already taken steps to improve food labelling and outlets are being urged to do all they can ahead of the implementation date to help consumers make safe food choices.

These changes will apply to businesses in England, with similar arrangements expected to follow in the devolved nations to provide a UK wide approach to protecting consumers.

Rajinder Singh Bains (46), of Wolverhampton, was appointed sole director of Midland Wines (UK) Ltd in June 2013. The company was a wholesaler of wine, food and tobacco, supplying retailers and members of the public.

However, only a year later, Rajinder Bains caused the company to trade in a manner which led to the tax authorities suffering excise duty losses. Over an 18-month period between July 2014 and January 2016, HMRC assessed that Midland Wines owed almost £260,000 in excise duty.

HMRC contacted Rajinder Bains about the excise duty rules and regulations, as well as the importance of verifying that excise duty had been paid on the goods he was handling, but he failed to take the correct action.

Rajinder Bains resigned as a director in early January 2016 before the company entered Creditors Voluntary Liquidation at the end of that month. The appointed liquidators filed a report with the Insolvency Service highlighting the conduct of Rajinder Bains while he was director and the fact that the company had failed to pay the correct amount of tax.

In August 2019, the Secretary of State accepted an 8-year disqualification undertaking from Rajinder Bains. Effective from 3 September 2019, he cannot, without the permission of the court, be involved in the formation, promotion or management of a company, directly or indirectly.

Sue Macleod, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

The length of the disqualification of Rajinder Singh Bains sends a clear message to the business community that failure to pay excise duty that is rightfully owed is serious misconduct and will not be tolerated.

Rajinder Singh Bains is of Wolverhampton and his date of birth is June 1973.

Midland Wines (UK) Ltd (Company no. 07679340)

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

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