Boys are trailing behind girls in literacy by age of five as they struggle to read ANYTHING at the time they start school

69% of girls reached literacy standard, compared to 53% of boys

Just half of school starters had a good overall level of development

Tens of thousands of boys begin formal education unable to read a simple sentence or write a letter to Father Christmas. File picture

Boys starting school are behind girls in virtually all measures of development – including reading and writing.

Tens of thousands of boys begin formal education unable to read a simple sentence or write a letter to Father Christmas.



Many also cannot perform basic maths, such as counting to 20 or adding a single digit number to another, according to data from the Department for Education.



At age five, large numbers of girls are also struggling with basic literacy and numeracy and other areas such as communication and language, although far fewer than boys in every category.



Just 52 per cent of school starters were judged to have reached a good level of development overall.

This rose to 60 per cent among girls, compared to just 44 per cent of boys.



Some 61 per cent had reached the expected standard of literacy – 69 per cent of girls and 53 per cent of boys.

In maths, 70 per cent of girls reached the minimum standard and 63 per cent of boys.



Nearly four-fifths of girls had good communication and language, a substantial advantage over boys.

The category involves listening, paying attention, understanding and speaking.

There were also major differences in areas such as personal, social and emotional development – which involves self-confidence and ability to form relationships.



Nearly four-fifths of girls had good communication and language, a substantial advantage over boys. File picture

Publication of the figures follows warnings from teachers about children arriving at school unable to do other simple tasks. Many are not toilet trained, cannot hold a knife and fork or refuse to sit down for lunch.



Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said underperformance among five-year-olds was largely the result of ‘indifferent’ parents who do not take the time to help their children learn.

