Phonics screening check 2026 results: pass mark and local figures

The phonics screening check 2026 results are out, bringing encouraging news for parents across England, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. According to provisional statistics published by the Department for Education on 8 October 2026, 82% of year 1 pupils met the expected standard, up from 80% in 2025. This means national attainment has returned to the level recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.

There is also an important change for families to understand. For the first time since the check began in 2012, the mark needed to meet the expected standard has changed. Whether your child has just received their result or you are preparing for a future phonics check, this guide explains the figures, local results and what they mean for your child's reading development.

What are the key phonics screening check results for 2026?

The Department for Education's provisional 2026 statistics show improvements in year 1 phonics attainment nationally. The main figures provide a useful starting point for understanding the results and how they compare with previous years.

The Department for Education also reports that national year 1 attainment fell to 75% in 2022 before recovering. The 2026 figure therefore marks a return to the pre-pandemic national level. The year 2 results remain stable, although the Department advises that changes in methodology mean figures from 2024 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier published year 2 measures.

• Year 1 national attainment: 82% in 2026, compared with 80% in 2025.
• Pre-pandemic comparison: 82% met the standard in 2019.
• End of year 2 attainment: 89% in 2026, unchanged from 2025.
• Expected standard threshold: 31 marks out of 40 in 2026.
• West Midlands year 1 attainment: 81%, up from 79% in 2025.
• Birmingham year 1 attainment: 82%, up from 79% in 2025.

What is the phonics screening check in year 1?

The phonics screening check is a statutory assessment designed to confirm whether children have reached the expected standard in phonic decoding. According to the Department for Education, it is taken by year 1 pupils, typically aged six, in state-funded schools. A teacher administers the check individually, recording whether the child reads each of 40 words correctly.

Children receive a mark between 0 and 40, based on the number of correct responses. The check focuses specifically on decoding rather than every aspect of reading. Children who do not meet the expected standard in year 1, or who were not checked, must take the check at the end of year 2, typically aged seven. This gives parents a clear reason to discuss their child's result with their teacher while also considering their broader reading development. Our Year 1 parent guide to the phonics screening check explains the real and pseudo-words and the June timetable in more detail.

What was the phonics screening check pass mark in 2026?

The expected standard in 2026 was 31 out of 40, according to the Department for Education. This is the first change since the phonics screening check was introduced in 2012, when the threshold was set at 32. A child scoring 31 or more therefore met the expected standard for the 2026 check.

The Department for Education explains that the checks are developed to the same specification each year, but the words must change. Because different words can create slight differences in difficulty, the threshold may vary to maintain the expected standard. The threshold has not been communicated to schools until after the check since 2014. Parents should therefore avoid assuming that the same numerical threshold will necessarily apply every year.

What do the 2026 phonics results show about attainment gaps?

Although national results improved, the Department for Education's provisional figures highlight differences between pupil groups. Girls achieved 86% attainment in year 1, compared with 78% for boys. Both groups improved by two percentage points from 2025. The Department reports an attainment gap of seven percentage points in 2026, one point narrower than in 2025.

Disadvantaged pupils had 68% attainment, compared with 86% for other pupils. The Department reports a 17 percentage point gap, unchanged from 2025. Among pupils with special educational needs, 46% met the standard, up from 43% in 2025. The figures were 56% for pupils receiving SEN support and 21% for those with an Education, Health and Care plan.

Month of birth also matters in the national figures. The Department for Education reports that 87% of September-born pupils met the standard, compared with 76% of August-born pupils. Its published gap was 12 percentage points, two points narrower than in 2025. These group differences provide context, but they cannot determine how any individual child will perform.

How did Birmingham and the West Midlands perform in 2026?

Birmingham's results provide encouraging local news. Department for Education local authority data shows that 82% of Birmingham year 1 pupils met the standard in 2026, compared with 79% in 2025. Birmingham therefore matched the England average of 82% and exceeded the West Midlands regional figure of 81%, which increased from 79%.

Across the surrounding local authorities, improvements were widespread but attainment varied. Sandwell reached 79%, up from 78%, while Walsall improved from 78% to 80%. Wolverhampton increased from 77% to 79%, and Dudley rose from 78% to 81%. All four remained below England's 82% national figure.

Solihull recorded 85%, up from 84%, placing it three percentage points above England. Coventry improved from 77% to 80%, remaining two points below the national figure. These comparisons come from the Department for Education's provisional local authority dataset for all state-funded schools. They show why parents in Birmingham and the Black Country should consider their own local context rather than relying exclusively on national headlines.

The figures also show that improvements across an area do not mean every child has the same experience. Local percentages describe the proportion meeting the standard, not the circumstances or abilities of individual pupils. For families considering additional reading support, a conversation about their child's actual needs is more useful than a local ranking.

What does my child's phonics screening result mean?

A phonics screening result offers one snapshot of a child's decoding skills. The Department for Education defines the check as a measure of whether pupils have met the expected standard in phonic decoding. It is not intended to describe every aspect of a child's reading experience, and parents should avoid treating a single mark as a complete judgement of their child's ability.

Teachers can consider other evidence from everyday learning when discussing a child's progress. If your child met the expected standard, you can continue encouraging reading and building confidence. If they did not, remember that the Department for Education requires children who have not met the standard in year 1 to be checked again at the end of year 2. Ask their teacher which sounds, words or decoding skills would be most useful to practise.

How can parents help with phonics at home?

Supporting phonics at home does not need to feel like another formal assessment. Keep practice calm, encouraging and manageable. Try reading together regularly, listening carefully as your child sounds out unfamiliar words, and offering gentle encouragement when they make an effort. Focus on helping your child feel comfortable practising rather than expecting every answer to be correct immediately.

You can also make practice more engaging by taking turns reading words, noticing familiar letter patterns and revisiting sounds your child is learning at school. Where possible, follow the approaches recommended by their teacher so that home practice complements classroom learning. If your child struggles with particular words, use these as starting points for a supportive conversation rather than a reason for concern. If reading has become a battle rather than a habit, our guide to helping reluctant readers in KS2 has ideas that work for younger children too.

Families considering tutoring can focus on individual decoding needs, confidence and steady practice. For parents in Birmingham and the West Midlands, the most useful starting point is understanding what their child already knows and where additional guidance might help. Keep the emphasis on progress and enjoyment rather than comparison with national percentages.

Is 31 out of 40 a pass in the phonics screening check?

Yes. According to the Department for Education, 31 out of 40 was the threshold for meeting the expected standard in 2026. This replaced the previous threshold of 32, which had remained unchanged since the check began in 2012. The required mark may vary between years because the difficulty of the words can vary slightly.

What happens if my child does not pass phonics in year 1?

The Department for Education states that pupils who do not meet the expected standard in year 1 must take the phonics screening check again at the end of year 2. Parents can discuss the result with their child's teacher, ask which decoding skills need attention and agree on suitable opportunities for practice. One result should be viewed alongside other evidence of learning and progress. For what else is assessed in the following year, see our guide to KS1 SATs in Year 2.

When were the 2026 phonics screening check results published?

The Department for Education published its provisional phonics screening check attainment statistics for England on 8 October 2026. The release covers pupils who took the check in summer 2026 and includes national results, pupil characteristics, regional comparisons and local authority figures. The published data is provisional, so parents should recognise that subsequent final statistics may be updated.

This article summarises published statistics, not advice about an individual child. If you would like one-to-one phonics support in Birmingham or the West Midlands, you can read about our primary tutoring, book a tutor or get in touch with our team.