A FIFTH of children in the North East region are leaving primary school unable to read, write or add up as well as expected, new figures show.

Yesterday, The Department for Education released provisional figures for Key Stage 2 exams – more commonly known as SATs – taken this summer by pupils in Year Six.

The results show 19% of 10 and 11-year-olds from the North East failed to reach the Government’s target of Level 4 in English and maths.

Furthermore, 16% did not make the grade in their reading exam, while 27% fell short of the required level in their writing test.

Last night, Schools’ Minister Nick Gibb said: “There has been a decline in the proportion of children – both boys and girls – who can read and write beyond the expected level. The results of our weakest readers and writers also remain a real concern.”

But teaching unions and heads from the region argue the results are “flawed” and have questioned the reliability of external assessment.

Around half of Newcastle’s primary schools have returned large numbers of their papers to be remarked over concerns of false grading.

Adrian Prandle, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: “The SATs tests are fatally flawed and blight children’s education.

“Up to 30% of the test results are wrong, they do not raise standards and they don’t give a true picture of children’s progress.” Mr Prandle not only criticised the testing system, but how the subjects were taught in the first place.