THE borough's best performing schools have been revealed.

The Department for Education has published its annual primary school "league" tables based on each school's results in the Key Stage Two SATs ­— the national curriculum tests taken by pupils at the end of Year Six.

In Bury 64 per cent of children left primary school reaching the expected standard in the 3Rs.

Copy of 2018 Performance Tables 3.pdf

This was up by one per cent compared to last year and in line with the national average. However, children attaining higher scores ­— seven per cent ­— was lower than the national average of 10 per cent.

In reading and maths, overall children made above average progress and average progress in writing during their years at school, according to Government measures.

Lowercroft Primary School and Sunny Bank Primary School were the joint top performing schools, based on results, with 97 per cent of children leaving Year Six having achieved the grade in reading, writing and maths.

Damian Lansdale from Lowercroft Primary School said: "We are delighted to be at the top of the league tables and this outcome reflects the hard work of pupils, staff and parents.

"However, exam results only reflect a tiny part of what happens at Lowercroft, where we promote a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum. We want all of our children to have a love of learning, develop inquisitive minds and make a positive contribution to society.

"We firmly believe that school should be fun!"

Also dominating the top of the table were Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, Tottington Primary School and Christ Church CE Ainsworth.

Notable individual school achievements included Chantlers Primary in Bury and Chapelfield Primary, in Radcliffe, where children made exceptional progress across the three core subjects.

Children at the school made well above average progress in reading, writing and maths ­— the only two schools to record such an achievement in all three subjects.

Headteacher Maggie Howarth, at Chapelfield Primary School, said: "We are very proud of our SATs results this year.

"The fantastic progress is due to the dedication of the staff and the pupils."

Phillip Barlow at Chantlers Primary School said: "I am thrilled with the results and progress that the class of 2018 have achieved this year.

"We may not be top of the league table for attainment but our progress is outstanding and we are very proud of that.Well done to all our Year 6 children from 2018."

Progress scores show how much progress pupils made in reading, writing and maths between the end of Key Stage One and the end of Key Stage Two, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of Key Stage One.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "We’d like to congratulate the pupils for their individual achievements. Bury pupils made better than expected progress between the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 with all progress scores being positive, more so in reading and mathematics.

"In eight Bury schools, children made well above average progress in their reading and in six schools for mathematics.

"In two Bury schools children made well above average progress in all three subjects ­— reading, writing and mathematics ­— which is a superb achievement for the pupils, the schools and their communities. Only six schools were below average in one subject with no schools being below average in more than one subject.

"In 2018, the percentage of Bury pupils attaining the national expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined was in line with the national average for state-funded schools in England. This means that 64 per cent of pupils were ready for secondary school on leaving Bury primary schools.

"We are currently working with schools to raise aspirations and to reach for higher standards so that increasing numbers of children can start their secondary phase at, or above, the national standard expected for 11 year olds.

"We are working closely with school governors and leaders to help them improve the quality of the education experiences they provide and higher levels of achievement across the key stages in order to secure our young people's social and economic mobility and their life chances."