Scottish Education Secretary Angela Constance has conceded the results of the latest schools literacy survey are “not as good as they should be” after the research showed a drop in standards of reading and writing.
Ms Constance has pledged work to improve the key skills will be stepped up in the wake of the results.
The Scottish Survey of Literacy 2014 found fewer than half (47%) of S2 boys were doing well or performing beyond the level they were being assessed for in writing, down from 58% in 2012.
The proportion of S2 girls whose writing was of this standard also fell, going from 70% to 63% over the period.
In the most deprived communities, about two-fifths (41%) of S2 pupils were said to be “performing well, very well or beyond the level” with their writing, a drop from 54% in 2012.
Performance in this age group in the least deprived areas had also fallen, going from 74% in 2012 to 64% last year, according to the research.
Overall, 55% of S2 pupils were said to be doing well or better at writing, down from 64% in 2012.
When it came to reading, the 2014 survey found 80% of S2 students were doing “well or very well”, compared to 84% two years previously.
Performance was also poorer in primary schools, with 78% of P4 pupils and 88% of P7 students reading at this level, compared to 83% and 90% respectively in 2012.
Ms Constance pledged action from the Government following the results.
She said: “They demonstrate the need to redouble efforts to ensure that every child can succeed in school and so gain the skills they need for life.”
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS teaching union, described the survey as a “useful snapshot of standards in schools”, adding: “Whilst it is important to analyse these findings and learn any lessons, the EIS is very clear that particular challenges remain for schools, teachers and pupils.
“For example, we have seen a drop in teacher numbers, a rise in class numbers, teacher workload at an unsustainable level and restrictive budget cuts reducing resources.”