Year 8 state school pupils in England could face mandatory reading tests

Proposal aims to tackle under-achievement by white working-class children and improve schools’ focus on reading

Pupils at state schools in England will face new reading tests in an attempt to tackle under-achievement by white working-class children.

The government’s forthcoming white paper on schools is to include a new test of reading ability for pupils in year 8, aged 12 or 13, in an effort to encourage secondary schools to improve their teaching.