FEWER pupils are passing a government check designed to assess young children's reading abilities, official figures show.
In total, 82 per cent of six-year-olds met the expected standard in the controversial phonics test this year, down one percentage point on 2018.
Ministers argue that phonics give children the building blocks they need to read fluently.
But the check has not been without controversy, with opponents, including school leaders, arguing that it should not be compulsory and that statutory testing distorts teaching.
The phonics screening check is taken by primary school pupils, with those who do not meet the expected standard taking it again a year later.
The official figures show that girls were more likely to meet the expected standard than their male classmates.
Overall, 85 per cent of girls met the expected standard, compared to 78 per cent of boys.
And 71 per cent of disadvantaged pupils reached the expected standard, compared to 84 per cent of all other children.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the phonics screening check was a poor use of staff time and should not be compulsory for children.
"Statutory testing distorts teaching. Unfortunately, this has been a characteristic within primary accountability in recent years, from phonics to the new times tables check," he said.
"No-one would argue that children should not have a good grasp of phonics or know their times tables; but statutory testing is not the best way to assess this."
