MORE children are reaching the standards expected of them in the three Rs by the time they leave primary school, new figures show.

But hundreds of youngsters across Dorset and Hampshire are still failing to achieve the expected level in reading, writing and maths.

The results of this year’s national curriculum tests – known as Sats – show a four percentage-point improvement in the proportion of 11-year-olds gaining at least a Level 4 – the standard expected of the age group, in the basics.

Across the country, 79 per cent of youngsters achieved this level or higher in all three of the subjects tested, up from 75 per cent a year ago.

This means that just over a fifth did not reach this standard.

School Reform Minister Nick Gibb welcomed the improvement in results, and said that the government had set ‘unashamedly high expectations’ for all children.

The new figures show that 89 per cent of children gained at least a Level 4 on reading, up from 86 per cent in 2013, while in writing – which is marked by teachers – 85 per cent of youngsters reached this threshold, up two percentage points on last year.

In maths, the rise was smaller, with 86 per cent of youngsters achieving Level 4 or above, up from 85 per cent.