Some primary schools may not hit government targets in English and mathematics next year, Charles Clarke conceded for the first time yesterday.

Schools are expected to get 85 per cent of 11-year-olds up to the expected standards in national tests, from last year's figure of 75 per cent in English and 73 per cent in maths.

"Next year, it's difficult to say. I'm not going to make a prediction. I think it's a very, very demanding target," said the education secretary.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gwen Evans, joint acting general secretary for ATL said: "It is overdue but nevertheless welcome that the secretary of state is being realistic about the achievability of getting 85 per cent of pupils to the standard originally designed for 50 per cent.

"The time has come for government to acknowledge that unrealistic targets motivate no one. The signs are that this is just starting to happen. Teachers want politicians they can respect: that means politicians whose judgements are based on realism and evidence as well as aspiration.

"For years successive governments have been in love with targets. All too slowly the realisation has dawned that meeting targets sometimes means missing the educational point - teachers report teaching to the test and sacrificing opportunities for learners to develop real understanding. If the UK is to achieve higher standards, such short termism cannot be helpful. The message from ATL members is loud and clear: put targets in their place."

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

A spokeswoman for the NUT, told ePolitix.com: "How the government determined its targets has always been a source of mystery. Yet schools are under enormous pressure to continue to try to achieve unrealistic goals and are subject to criticism when they do not succeed.

"In addition, improvements in performance are subject to what in economics is called diminishing marginal returns. The initial extra effort produces significant improvements but each push after that produces smaller and smaller percentage improvements.

"At some stage reality must dawn in government circles and these unrealistic targets abandoned."