EAST Lancashire primary schools have been revealed as some of the best and worst performing in the region.

New figures released by the Department for Education yesterday show the level of achievement made by the last academic year six students across the country in the key stage two SATs.

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According to the new statistics, Laneshaw Bridge Primary School in Colne is the fourth best in the county while Great Marsden St John’s CE Primary Academy in Nelson came 454th out of 456 of the county’s schools.

In Blackburn with Darwen, Turton Belmont Community Primary School topped the league table while Darwen St James’ CE Primary Academy came bottom in 50th place.

Judith Peel, head teacher of rural Turton Belmont Community Primary School, said the school prides itself on small class sizes.

She said: “I’m really pleased and proud of the students and staff and how much hard work they’ve put in.

“It’s a tremendous achievement and it’s a real boost for us.

“We had six pupils sitting the exams this year which is our lowest for quite some time.

“We have expanded now to 14 pupils in the bottom years but some of the upper years still have the smaller class sizes.”

Overall, 82 per cent of pupils in Lancashire achieved a level four or above in reading, maths and writing with 81 per cent of youngsters in Blackburn with Darwen achieving the same.

Pendle’s MP Andrew Stephenson said: “I’m pleased to hear about Laneshaw Bridge Primary as it has been a top performing school for many years.

“Great Marsden has had its difficulties in recent years but a few months ago became an academy.

“I believe that there is now a plan in place and that it will start to improve soon.”

Youngsters are handed their results before the end of the summer term but they are only released to the public in December each year.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised an “exam factory culture” and said that the exams take the “joy out of discovering and gaining knowledge”.

Simon Jones, who represents the NUT in East Lancashire, said: “Congratulations to all schools who work so hard year in, year out for their pupils.

“The NUT is clearly committed to every single child fulfilling their potential and part of that must be to gain a lifelong love of learning.

“Children are more than a number. Each one develops at different levels in their school career.

“An exam factory culture takes the joy out of discovering and gaining knowledge and can reduce school to a series of grinding test practices.

“The fact that maintained schools and converter academies’ results have improved at exactly the same rate over the past four years – five per cent– has been ignored.

“This exposes the inconvenient truth that school structures do not drive improvement.”

Nationally, 80 per cent of pupils achieved level four or above in all of reading, writing and maths.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said: “As part of this government’s commitment to extending opportunity for all, it is essential that every child leaves primary school having mastered the basics in reading, writing and maths – thanks to our education reforms thousands more pupils each year are reaching those standards.

“The increased performance at primary level across the country demonstrates how this government is delivering on its commitment to provide educational excellence.”

Dianne Tootell, headteacher at St James’ Primary Academy in Darwen, declined to comment while the headteacher at Great Marsden Primary Academy was unavailable.

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