Key milestones in the development of literacy within school-age children 1993-2003

Background
England National Curriculum introduced to schools between 1989 and 1992. First statutory tests began in 1991 for key stage 1 (age 7) in English and maths, in 1993 for key stage 3 (age 14) in English, maths and science, and in 1995 for key stage 2 (age 11) in English, maths and science. Related league tables introduced between 1992 and 1996.
Wales Education system in 1992 very similar to England's but increasingly different since creation of Welsh Assembly in 1999.
Scotland Education separate from England since Act of Union in 1707. There was no national curriculum but there were national curricular guidelines; some testing but no official league tables.

1994
Northern Ireland Raising Schools' Standards Initiative, to raise self-esteem and levels of literacy and numeracy, focused on poorest-performing secondary schools and related primaries in most deprived areas.

1995
Northern Ireland Raising Schools' Standards Initiative extended until 1997.

1996
England 57% of 11-year-olds reached level 4 or above in English. Conservative Party launched National Literacy Project for primary schools as pilot, based around daily literacy hour. Labour Party (in opposition) set up Literacy Task Force (headed by Michael Barber) to develop strategy for raising literacy standards.

1997
England Following Labour victory in May 1997, Literacy Task Force's report, The Reading Revolution, launched in September as England's National Literacy Strategy, a top-down training programme with an initial focus on primary schools.

1998
England From September, primary schools expected to deliver daily literacy hour. The National Year of Reading launched to bring wider community support to literacy strategy in schools. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland took up idea of whole-community involvement but rejected England's top-down approach in schools. Wales and Northern Ireland followed events closely, cherry-picking best of innovations and suggesting schools adapt as appropriate.
Wales Every authority expected to draw up literacy strategy based on practice from best schools.
Northern Ireland School Improvement Programme asked schools to focus on literacy, numeracy and ICT and implement best practice. All secondary schools required to have literacy coordinators by September 1998.
Scotland The Early Intervention Programme launched to raise standards of literacy and numeracy in early primary education.

1999
Scotland New Community Schools initiative launched. Teachers, social workers, community education workers, health services and others all came together to meet needs of child.

2000
England National strategy extended to secondary schools as pilot Key Stage 3 Strategy.
Scotland National Priorities for Education set.

2001
England KS3 Strategy launched for all secondary schools.
Wales Aiming For Excellence at KS3 issued as part of The Learning Country. It focused on building on the best of primary practice and developing pupils' literacy among other key skills at secondary level.
Northern Ireland Post Primary Review proposed end of selection.

2002
England 75% of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 in English.
Wales 80% of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 in English; 75% in Welsh.
Scotland National Literacy and Numeracy Statements published and Home Reading Initiative launched.

2003
England Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies combined into overall National Primary Strategy. Testing gains plateaued - 75% of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 in English for fourth year running. A study by National Foundation for Educational Research, based on the achievement of 10-year-olds in 2001, ranked England's primary pupils third in world for reading ability.
Scotland Government signalled revision of 5-14 curriculum in favour of creativity and flexibility, and the abandonment of national testing for all.