London Tops Key Stage 2 Results in 2025 – But Postcode Gaps Leave Thousands Behind

Primary schools in London recorded the strongest Key Stage 2 results in the 2024/25 academic year according to new data from the Department for Education (DfE). More than two-thirds of Year 6 pupils in the capital met the expected standards in reading, writing, and maths combined—well above the national average. However, the figures also highlight a growing regional divide, with pupils in some areas falling significantly behind.

London Leads the Pack in Education Standards

In 2024/25, 68 per cent of Year 6 pupils in London achieved the expected benchmark in reading, writing, and maths. This compares with the national average of 62 per cent, a figure that itself shows slight improvement from last year’s 61 per cent.

The capital’s performance outpaced every other English region. The North East and South East tied for second place at 61 per cent each, while the East of England and South West recorded the lowest results, with only 59 per cent of pupils meeting the required standard.

Best Performing Local Authorities

At a local authority level, Hackney and Hammersmith and Fulham led the nation, with 76 per cent of pupils meeting expected standards in reading, writing, and maths. Other high performers included:

• Richmond upon Thames: 74 per cent
• Waltham Forest, Redbridge, and Kensington & Chelsea: 73 per cent each

These figures highlight how London boroughs dominate the top rankings, reflecting both investment and focus on educational outcomes in the capital.

Success Beyond the Capital – Trafford Stands Out

Outside London, Trafford in Greater Manchester emerged as the strongest performing local authority, with 70 per cent of pupils meeting all three subject standards.

However, neighbouring Manchester City painted a starkly different picture, with only 55 per cent of pupils meeting the expected benchmarks. This contrast illustrates how outcomes can vary dramatically even between adjacent areas.

Areas Falling Behind in Standards

Despite national improvements, many regions continue to struggle. In Central Bedfordshire, just 50 per cent of pupils met expected standards—the lowest rate in England.

Other underperforming areas included:

• Isle of Wight: 51 per cent
• Portsmouth: 53 per cent
• Cumberland and Derby: 54 per cent
• Norfolk, Sefton, Liverpool, Manchester, Dorset, and Blackpool: 55 per cent each

These figures demonstrate what experts often call a postcode lottery in education, where a child’s chances of meeting academic benchmarks depend heavily on where they live.

National Progress Since the Pandemic

The Department for Education noted that national performance has slowly recovered since the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In 2021/22, only 59 per cent of pupils met the expected standard—the first year assessments resumed after the pandemic.
• In 2023/24, this figure rose to 61 per cent.
• In 2024/25, results climbed again to 62 per cent.

While progress is being made, outcomes still fall short of pre-pandemic levels, when 65 per cent of 11-year-olds reached the expected standards in 2018/19.

Postcode Lottery in Learning

Education analysts warn that the figures reinforce the idea of a postcode lottery for children’s education. While London and certain authorities achieve above-average results, large parts of the country continue to lag behind.

This gap means pupils in poorer-performing areas are more likely to struggle with secondary school work, potentially affecting their long-term prospects.

Why London is Outperforming

Experts point to several reasons behind London’s stronger performance:

• High investment in early years and primary education
• Diverse teaching methods and multicultural influences
• Better access to resources, tutoring, and extracurricular support
• Local authority accountability and strong school leadership

However, these advantages are not uniformly available across England, leaving many regions unable to replicate the capital’s success.

Calls for Government Action

Education unions and local councils are urging the government to address the imbalance by providing more resources to struggling areas. They argue that without targeted intervention, the performance gap will continue to widen, leaving thousands of children at risk of falling behind.

FAQs – London Leads Key Stage 2 Results 2025

Q1. What are Key Stage 2 results?
Key Stage 2 results measure the performance of Year 6 pupils (aged 10–11) in reading, writing, and maths before they move to secondary school.

Q2. How did London pupils perform in 2025?
London topped the national league table, with 68 per cent of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standards in reading, writing, and maths combined.

Q3. Which areas performed worst in 2025?
Central Bedfordshire recorded the lowest rate, with only 50 per cent of pupils reaching the expected benchmark. Other struggling areas include the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and parts of the North West.

Q4. Has performance improved since the pandemic?
Yes. Nationally, 62 per cent of pupils met standards in 2025, compared with 59 per cent in 2021/22. However, the figure is still below pre-pandemic levels of 65 per cent.

Q5. Why is there a gap between regions?
Factors include differences in school funding, teacher recruitment, socio-economic conditions, and access to learning resources. London schools often benefit from higher investment and stronger infrastructure.