Ofsted Report

"Standards remain well below average at Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4." 

So said Ofsted in their letter to Heather Tomlinson, (ex) Director of Children and Young People's Services at Bristol City Council on 17/12/2008. 

These are standards for things like reading, writing and arithmetic. But they are getting better. Better than the previous generation (who now have cars). Here's their level of literacy:

The evidence would suggest that there are significant numbers of motorists in Bristol who can't read. And if you can't read the words, how can you be expected to obey the advice? 

But... These cars , although safely on the pavement near the Gloucester Road, are not from Bristol. EA04YWF proves that schools in Essex are worse, as does RF52 ODU for areas near Reading (where you really would expect everyone to be able to read). Maybe Bristol is not fairing so badly in the league tables after all.