A Ceredigion headteacher has said that personalised assessments for primary school children are ‘supporting pupil’s progress’ as fresh data reveals that levels of numeracy and reading in Wales improved last year.

New statistics show that attainment in Numeracy, Welsh Reading and English Reading in Wales all improved in 2023/24, new statistics show.

English Reading saw attainment levels improve across all year groups compared to 2022/23.

Learners in Year 3 showed sustained improvement with levels in English Reading being higher than in both 2020/2021 and 2021/22.

Welsh Reading presented some improvement across Years 3 to 9, compared to 2022/23.

Younger years have shown the greatest degree of improvement in Numeracy (Procedural), whilst Numeracy (Reasoning) has remained relatively stable.

The latest statistics use anonymised data from the national personalised assessments.

Personalised assessments are adaptive online assessments in four subjects taken by all learners in Years 2 to 9 in maintained schools.

Headteacher Trystan Phillips at Ysgol Gymunedol Penparc in Ceredigion said: “We have evolved in our use of the Personalised Assessments to move away from their use as a summative resource to being a resource that truly influences progress.

“The use of the different group reports have been invaluable in not only recognising strengths and areas to improve for year groups but also showing examples and exercises that can be used.

“They’re very much now a device to support pupil progress”.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said: “It is encouraging to see progress in attainment in reading and numeracy.

“This improvement highlights the impact our investments are making in schools to ensure every learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“These assessments help to support all our learners in their educational journey by providing a valuable insight into their strengths and emerging skills.”