Almost one in five London children left primary school without a basic grasp of English and maths this year, new figures reveal.
This means more than 14,000 pupils started secondary school in September already behind their peers in the vital subjects.
But the figure has improved since last year, when 25 per cent of children failed the National Curriculum SATs tests in English and maths.
London is doing better than the national average, with 18 per cent of children not reaching the expected standards in the city, compared with 21 per cent nationally.
The capital dominates a league table of local authorities based on the results published today by the department for education.
Seven London boroughs are in the national top ten for the tests taken by more than 15,000 children at the end of primary school, including Richmond, Greenwich and Kensington and Chelsea.
Nationally the number of primary schools failing to give pupils a good grounding in the three Rs has halved in the space of a year.
Education Secretary Michael Gove expects at least 60 per cent of pupils at every school to achieve Level 4 in English and maths.
Those who fall below this benchmark risk failing if they do not also meet progress measures.
There are 18 London schools in this category and 521 schools nationally, compared with 1,310 last year.
A Department for Education spokesman said: “This Government brought in higher primary school floor targets with one aim in mind – to drive up standards with immediate effect to end years of chronic underperformance.
“Today’s figures demonstrate that schools have responded to the challenge. Heads, teachers and pupils deserve credit for meeting the challenge head on.”
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A survey today also revealed one in four Londoners have the maths skills of a nine-year-old, while 17 per cent are at that level in English.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has doubled funding for adult English and maths and urged adults to make the most of free government help to boost these skills. Skills minister Matthew Hancock said: “Good English and maths are vital for getting a job and playing a full part in society.”
Adults have been able to take free maths and English GCSEs since August.
