Boys suffer the most as reading standards carry on dropping

Standards in English have fallen or stalled in almost a quarter of secondary schools, league tables reveal today.

Boys in particular are failing to make the grade in literacy tests for 14-year-olds.

This is despite receiving intensive literary lessons throughout their whole school career.

Just 73 per cent of pupils made the grade in literacy tests last year, down one per cent on 2005.

Critics say many pupils are beginning GCSE studies without the reading ability to handle them.

The tables, published by the Department of Education, reveal that in one in ten schools fewer than half of pupils passed all three core subjects, English, maths and science.

And more than 400,000 youngsters - two thirds - missed the higher standard in English despite a multi-billion pound eight-year school literacy drive.

The trend will embarrass ministers who are trying to set an even tougher target for achievement in the three Rs.

Tory schools spokesman Nick Gibb said: "Results in English have fallen at a time when we desperately need to see a significant rise in basic skills.

"The fact we are still concerned about the literacy levels of 14-year-olds is a sad indictment of educational standards in this country."

The tables are a school-by-school breakdown of performance in national tests for 14-year-olds in English, maths and science.

In a further blow to ministers, the results for more than 3,000 secondary and middle schools reveal how flagship city academies are continuing to struggle in the three crucial subjects - up to four years after opening.