Primary pupils soar above national average in phonics screening check

100% of participating pupils at Arkwright Primary School and Scarcliffe Primary School, both based in Chesterfield, passed the check, exceeding last year’s national average score of 80%.

Hannah Brocklesby, Co-Headteacher at Scarcliffe Primary School, said: “We are incredibly proud of our pupils for this fantastic achievement. These results reflect the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of our children, alongside the unwavering support of our staff and families.”

Sophie Ruddiforth, Headteacher at Arkwright Primary School, said: “Our early reading outcomes have continued to rise over the past three years, consistently remaining above the national average. Reading is the foundation for growth and future success, unlocking knowledge, enriching language and developing the skills children need to thrive. We are extremely proud of our continuing phonics screening success.”

The phonics screening check, introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2012, confirms whether Year 1 pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard. It is designed to ensure children are making progress to become fluent readers and identify those needing extra help early. The statutory pass threshold mark was set by the DfE at 31 out of 40 for 2026.

Julie Wardle, Primary Director at Redhill Academy Trust, said: "Congratulations to the staff and Year 1 pupils at both schools who have achieved impressive results in the 2026 phonics screening check. This success is the result of a relentless focus on the teaching of strong foundations and in particular early reading."