Literacy levels among Bradford children have leapt forward according to new SATS results for this year’s primary school leavers.

Provisional tables from the Department for Education show the percentage of pupils making expected progress in English has jumped from 81 per cent in 2009 to 91 per cent this year.

And that ten point improvement in reading and writing outperforms the national trend – which showed an average rise from 81 per cent to 89 per cent over that same timespan.

Bradford pupils making similar progress in Maths increased from 80 to 87 per cent over the same time period.

And those who achieved the benchmark Level 4 or above in English and Maths combined went from 68 per cent to 75 per cent in those three years.

Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children’s Services, praised the district’s teachers, schools and children for their efforts.

He said: “These are the best Key Stage 2 results Bradford primary schools have ever recorded. I am also really pleased to see the progress Bradford pupils are making in English as this is vital to a successful education.

“I would like to congratulate all who have contributed to these record results and the improvements we have seen over a number of years.”

Some 542,500 children took the Sats tests nationally with girls statistically out performing boys in all categories.

In Yorkshire, Calderdale posted the best combined results in English and Maths with 83 per cent achieving at least Level 4, while Rotherham was at the bottom with 73 per cent.

Bradford tied with Sheffield for 7th place out of 12 Yorkshire education authorities.

These figures will be amended when the final results for England are released at the end of the year when percentages could go up or down.

Elizabeth Truss, Minister for Education and Childcare, said the improved results were encouraging: “I congratulate pupils, teachers and families on their hard work and achievements.”