You can see how schools performed in your areaDavid Dubas-Fisher-LE and Liam Thorp Political Editor
06:30, 14 Sep 2025
This graph shows the proportion of year 6 pupils in Merseyside boroughs meeting the expected standard for reading, writing and maths
Children’s reading, writing and maths skills are below pre-pandemic levels across Merseyside, with only around half of Year 6 pupils in some areas meeting expected standards. Just 55% of 11-year-olds in both Liverpool and Sefton met the expected standards in each of their Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths assessments in the 2024/25 academic year.
That’s according to the latest figures from the Department for Education. They’re below the national average of 62% and are the joint sixth lowest proportions of any local authority area in England.
The performance is also down from 62% and 63% respectively in 2018/19, the last full academic year before the pandemic.
Wirral has only fared slightly better with 56% of 11-year-olds meeting the expected standards in each of the three subjects, down from 60% before the pandemic.
St Helens and Knowsley have our region’s best results, with 61% of Key Stage 2 pupils meeting the expected standards.
Those were down from 66% and 63% before the pandemic, however.
This graph shows the proportion of year 6 pupils in Merseyside boroughs meeting the expected standard for reading, writing and maths
Across England, there remains a postcode lottery for reading and writing skills, with the new official figures showing that half of pupils are failing to meet standards in some parts of the country.
The proportion of 11-year-olds reaching expected Key Stage 2 standards continued to improve this year, though are still behind pre-pandemic levels.
Figures from the Department for Education show that 62% of Year 6 pupils in England made the grade in all three subjects in the 2024/25 academic year.
That’s up slightly from 61% in 2023/24 and 59% in 2021/22, the first year assessments were made after the pandemic.
The proportion is still behind 2018/19 though, when 65% of 11-year-olds met expected standards in all three subjects.
You can see how primary schools perform in your local area using our special map below.
Hover your mouse over the borough you are interested in to see the data.