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Our schools are top of the tables

Jenny Kirby
13/12/2006

TOP marks go to Prestbury CE Primary School which is amongst the 'best of the best' according to new education league tables.

The results show how well pupils did in their Key Stage Two national curriculum tests in their final year of primary school.

And the figures published this week reveal Prestbury is among the 200 highest attaining primary schools in England at level five in English, maths and science exams taken by ten and 11-year-olds in May.

This level is above the standard for their age group, and is usually expected of children three years older.

Prestbury headteacher Neil Hopkin said: "I am absolutely delighted, it's a group effort from staff, parents, governors and pupils over a prolonged period year on year.

"Results for English, maths and science are always of a high level, but this year these were particularly impressive."

Pupils at Prestbury achieved a fantastic 100 per cent in all three core subjects.

The tables also include the aggregate score achieved in the three tests and 'value added' scores to show how much a school has improved its pupils' achievements since they took their first set of tests.

"We are delighted with our value added score of 100.9. The overall attainment of pupils is important, but what is crucial is how much further you take the child. For the school to move intelligent children on that much further is very challenging.

"This is a trend we have maintained over a number of years but this year was especially exciting.

"All we really want is every child to deliver their optimum, we are not fixated on results, we want the best for each individual child."

St Barnabas CE Primary School was also "very pleased" with its value added score of 100.

Headteacher Clare McGarey said: "The results show a huge improvement in achievement from last year and even more pleasing is the value added which is above the Cheshire average.

"We have improved in English, maths and science quite considerably which is down to a lot of hard work from staff and children."

But Ash Grove Primary School, who scored amongst the lowest in Macclesfield, have vowed to improve.

Headteacher Rita Kumar said: "We are a school in challenging circumstances.

"Staff are working hard, we have robust systems for assessment in place and they are being embedded."