Last updated at 11:12 31 October 2005

Boys fell further behind girls in reading, writing and mathematics at primary school this year, according to the latest test results.

Just 51 per cent of 11-year-old boys in England reached the level expected of their age group in the three core subjects, compared with 63 per cent of girls.

This marked a one percentage point drop in boys' scores and a one point rise for girls from 2004.

The Government statistics came in an update to earlier figures which were released in August. They showed a gulf opening up between boys and girls in writing.

But the latest figures demonstrated that the growing gender gap is a much wider problem.

Overall, 57 per cent of all pupils - boys and girls - reached the expected standard of Level 4 in their national curriculum tests this year.

This was the same proportion as 2004 but a rise from the 1997 level of 43 per cent.

The Government published the latest provisional figures without announcement on the Education Department's website on Friday.

But the release was dated October 12, suggesting that statisticians had prepared the data for publication more than two weeks earlier.

Last month all six teachers' unions united to demand a review of the primary school tests.

Assessments 'damaging education'

They said the regime of assessment for 11-year-olds was highly damaging to children's education.

Many primary schools spend 70 per cent of their time just on English and maths, "teaching to the test", the unions said.

The Government has been caught in a row over whether the primary school test results accurately reflect improvements in standards since Labour came to power.

Academics at Durham University suggested that the improvements in results overstated the actual rise in primary school standards and the abilities of pupils.

The Government's own Statistics Commission backed this research and warned ministers that they must not overstate the level of improvement in primary school standards by quoting the test figures.

But the Department for Education has refused to accept the findings.

The Government is expected to miss its key targets for primary school test results next year.

Ministers have an almost impossible task of overcoming a 10 pre cent gap if they are to meet the 2006 target of 85 per cent of 11-year-olds making the grade in maths alone.

There is also a target for 85 per cent of 11-year-olds to pass the English tests at the required level by 2006. This year, 79 per cent of pupils reached this level.