Lift Schools sees improved results in early years and key stage 2

Lift Schools is reporting strong outcomes across its primary network, with year 6 pupils achieving notable results in phonics and key stage 2 (KS2) assessments.

This year, 79% of year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths – a three percentage point increase on 2024 and 17 percentage points above the 2025 national average of 62%. Three schools – Trinity Primary Academy, Noel Park and Feversham Primary Academy – recorded over 90% of pupils meeting the KS2 standard.

Some 19 of the trust’s 31 schools either maintained or improved their outcomes compared with 2024. The most marked progress came at Beacon Primary Academy, where results rose by 24 percentage points to 81%.

Disadvantaged pupils within the trust also showed continued progress in reading, writing and maths, with attainment rising from 70% in 2024 to 71% in 2025. This group outperformed the 2024 national average for non-disadvantaged pupils by four percentage points.

Phonics outcomes also remained high, with 89% of year 1 pupils passing the screening check – the same as 2024 and nine percentage points above the 2024 national average. In addition, 15 schools recorded a 90% or higher pass rate, one more than the previous year.

Disadvantaged pupils, including those eligible for pupil premium, performed in line with their peers nationally. In 2024, they exceeded the results of non-disadvantaged pupils nationally by four percentage points.

Ruth Murad, director of primary at Lift Schools, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our primary schools and the teams who have achieved a remarkable set of key stage 2 results. This has been achieved through hard work, dedication and high expectations for all our pupils.”

The trust also highlighted progress in the year 4 Multiplication Tables Check. In 2025, 59% of pupils achieved full marks – an increase of eight percentage points on 2024 and 25 points above the national average. The average score across the trust rose from 21.9 to 22.4, compared with the national average of 20.6.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) results also improved. The percentage of children achieving a Good Level of Development increased to 74.5% in 2025 – 0.7 percentage points up on 2024 and 6.8 above the 2024 national average.

Additionally, 72.6% met the expected level across all 17 Early Learning Goals, 3.1 points higher than in 2024 and 6.4 above the national average. The average number of goals met per child rose slightly to 14.3, compared with 14.2 in 2024 and a national average of 14.1.

Lift Schools chief executive Becks Boomer-Clark added: “This is a remarkable achievement and a powerful example of the life-changing work our schools are delivering every day.”