Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief Ofsted inspector, has asked ministers to consider introducing a tougher English target at the end of primary school. The current target is level 4. Under the new recommendations does this mean a new level 5? An Ofsted spokewoman said it was not for the inspectorate to decide where it should be moved to.

Sir Michael has suggested that national progress in literacy had stalled, noting that last year 100,000 pupils (1 in 5) did not reach expected levels at the end of primary schools.

The Department for Education has said that it is an objective to raise standards in English as a matter of urgency and they are currently looking at this as part of their review of the national curriculum.