TWO Lancashire primary schools who topped national league tables are celebrating their success.

Headteachers in East Lancashire who came out top in spite of tougher targets said they were thrilled.

Lancashire’s top performing primary school was St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley, which rated third in the country.

Laneshawbridge Primary School in Colne also ranked high, at number 43 out of the 24,328 schools in England.

Staff, pupils and parents of St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Hurst Green were celebrating as they were named the third highest achieving primary school in the country, and the top school in Lancashire.

St Joseph’s is the oldest and smallest state Jesuit primary school in the country.

The village school, with only 65 pupils, dates back to 1686 and has close associations with Stonyhurst College.

Headteacher Elizabeth Stevens said: “Our school mission statement states that we will strive for excellence in all that we do.

“Our children take this to mean giving their very best in every area, including religious life, sport, music, academic work and caring for others.

“As a Jesuit school, we really emphasise giving our children a very wide range of experiences and opportunities for improvement in learning beyond the national curriculum.

“For example, we are an Eco School and a Fairtrade school and we have close links with schools in France and Zimbabwe.

“Our very high results are a result of outstanding teaching, very motivated and enthusiastic pupils and very supportive parents.”

Headteacher at Laneshawbridge Primary Eileen Bleasdale said: “We’re thrilled with the news and everyone has been celebrating.”

Overall, Lancashire as an educational authority came 67th, while Blackburn with Darwen ranked 105th out of 150.

No East Lancashire School was rated in the bottom 50, in which five pupils or fewer had hit the newer and tougher literacy and numeracy targets.