The proportion of pupils reaching the government’s “expected standard” in their year 1 phonics screening test has returned to pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Department for Education data released today show 82 per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard, the same as in 2019. Achievement rates fell to 75 per cent in 2022-23, and have slowly climbed back up since. But the results are still a long way off of the government’s “ambition” for 90 per cent of pupils to achieve the expected standard. Figures also show minor improvements among disadvantaged pupils. The proportion reaching the expected standard rose from 67 per cent in 2025 to 68 per cent in 2026. However, the disadvantage gap – 17 percentage points – is the same as 2025. Eighty-nine per cent of pupils met the expected standard by the end of year 2, which is unchanged since 2025. Source: Department for Education Record SEN results Today’s data shows girls continue to outperform boys. The proportion of girls achieving the expected standard increased from 84 per cent in 2025 to 86 per cent in 2026, while boys also saw a rise in rates from 76 per cent to 78 per cent. This is after last year’s slight drop in theproportion of boys reaching the expected standard in the test. The proportion of pupils with SEN achieving the expected standard has also hit record levels after climbing by three per cent. In 2026, 46 per cent of pupils with SEN met the expected standard, compared with 43 per cent in 2025. This is the highest rate since the phonics screening check was introduced. Regional gaps remain The largest regional gap remains between London, the highest performing, and the north east and north west, the lowest performing areas, at four percentage points. London saw achievement rates of 84 per cent, compared with 80 per cent in the north east and north west. This is unchanged from 2025. Source: Department for Education The east of England saw the largest increase in attainment, from 80 per cent in 2025 to 82 per cent in 2026. Summer born pupils remain less likely to meet the government’s benchmark, but gaps between them and September-born pupils have narrowed. Seventy-six per cent of pupils born in August achieved the expected standard, up by three percentage points from 2025. Meanwhile 87 per cent of September-born pupils met the expected standard, up from 86 per cent in 2025. ‘Determined to close the gap’ Schools Minister Georgia Gould said results show “real progress” and is a “testament to the hard work of teachers, school leaders, families and children across the country”. “However, we are determined to close the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils and children with SEND.”