[originaltext] The estimated one-fifth of children in London’s schools who c

The estimated one-fifth of children in London’s schools who cannot read simple sentences by the age of eight should be given special help. This is the main conclusion of an independent report on London’s 700 primary schools. The report, which is the result of a year’s work, tells London’s primary schools that they must demand more of their children.
    Most parents were happy with the schools, but some said that their children’s pace of learning might be too slow. The report confirmed this by stating that much of the new work must have been taught at the same level of difficulty as the old.
    The report emphasized that children should not be tortured but more should have been expected of them in schools. This would mean that some children might have achieved much more than the limited demands made on them by comprehension exercises or copying out from textbooks.
    Mrs. Morrel, who commissioned the report, said that all London’s schools must put into effect a framework of reform. Every child ought to be able to read by the age of eight.
    Other reforms mentioned in the report were that parents should be better represented on school governing committees and that each school ought to draw up a development plan, listing what improvements it can make. Parents should also be represented on the education committee.