STUDENTS at Wiltshire primary schools are achieving better levels of reading, writing and arithmetic but some are still falling short.

Performance tables from the Department for Education show an increase in the number of 11-year-olds achieving level 4 in all three core subjects in Wiltshire but 22 per cent of pupils are still not making the grade.

In the reading test, 90 per cent of pupils achieved the expected level 4 and above, with 89 per cent achieving this for writing.

In the maths test, 85 per cent of pupils gained level 4 and above and there was an increased proportion of pupils gaining the expected levels in all of reading, writing and maths at 78 per cent.

Cabinet member for children services Laura Mayes said: “I’m very pleased to see that the number of our young people leaving primary school with a sound understanding of the core subjects has increased.

“These results underline the commitment and hard work of both pupils and schools supported by the council and I’d like to congratulate all involved.”