More than one-fifth of London children who took Year 6 SATs this year did not achieve basic levels in maths, reading and writing.

The government has already said that standards were raised in this year's tests, but new figures from the Evening Standard have shown that almost 17,000 11-year-olds failed to obtain Level 4 in all three subjects. This equates to 21 per cent of the capital's year group and compares less favourably with the 18 per cent who failed to reach three Level 4 scores last year.

Despite this, people in primary teaching jobs in London can still take heart in the fact their pupils outperformed other areas of the country. The 79 per cent who attained the minimum standard in the capital was four percentage points higher than the UK's average result.

A Department for Education spokesman said the tougher SATs tests were brought in to end years of "entrenched failure". 

Schools must ensure at least 60 per cent of pupils pass all three tests and meet progress targets, otherwise they face being placed on special measures by Ofsted. The Evening Standard believes that 81 London schools are now in danger of intervention, while nationally, 767 primary schools fell below the government's 60 per cent floor target.

The DfT spokesman added: "Schools with a long history of under-performance which are not stepping up to the mark will be taken over by an academy sponsor. The expertise and strong leadership provided by sponsors is the best way to turn around weak schools and give pupils there the best chance of a first-class education."

In London, 40 schools achieved a 100 per cent pass rate for all three tests and as Grinling Gibbons primary school in Lewisham also scored well in the "value added" category, it was deemed the capital's top performing primary.

As a teacher or somebody looking for a teaching job, do you feel there was a need to raise standards at primary schools? Let us know your thoughts on the subject.