Key Stage 2
At Key Stage 2, the PSA target is for 85% of 11 year olds to achieve Level 4 or above in English by 2006, with this level of performance sustained to 2008. There are no longer national targets for performance at Level 5 at the end of Key Stage 2, and therefore no requirement on LAs and schools to set and report Level 5 targets. LAs are encouraged to discuss with schools and their governing bodies the setting of appropriate targets for their more able pupils, particularly where the percentage of children attaining Level 4 is consistently very high.

The Government has set new targets for 2008 to reduce by 40% the proportion of schools where fewer than 65% of pupils achieve Level 4+ in English. These targets cover all schools whose Key Stage 2 results are published in the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables. The reduction will be measured against the number of schools that were below 65% in 2003.

Key Stage 3
The national PSA targets are for 85% of 14-year-olds to achieve at least Level 5 in English by 2007, with this level of performance sustained to 2008.
By 2008 at least 50% of pupils achieve Level 5 or above in English.

Key Stage 4
The national PSA targets are for 60% of pupils to achieve five or more A*-C GCSEs or equivalent by 2008. In all schools at least 20% of pupils will achieve five or more A*-C GCSEs or equivalent by 2004, 25% by 2006 and 30% by 2008. From 2004, the PSA target for Key Stage 4 will include a wider range of qualifications in order to reflect the achievements of pupils taking qualifications other than GCSEs and GNVQs.

For more information on Goverment literacy and English targets visit www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/ts/informationcentre/nattar