ALONG with, I suspect, the majority of other headteachers in this area and nationally, I do not set a great deal of store by the tables showing the results achieve by individual schools at the end of Key Stage Two; there are a great many more factors influencing the results of individual schools than can ever be shown in a table.

Schools start from different bases and many with seemingly low results have contributed a great deal to the attainment of their pupils, which goes unsung. And the happiness and life-confidence that schools inspire cannot be measured statistically.

However, whilst we are still in a culture where tables prevail, I feel obliged to point out that the results of small schools with fewer than 10 pupils in a cohort are not published. Nevertheless small schools achieve results that compare extremely favourably with national expectations.

Our small school, the smallest primary school in Hyndburn, has just 55 pupils. I am very proud that the seven pupils who took SATs in June achieved 100 per cent pass in every subject, with over 70 per cent achieving Level 5. Additionally, our average points total and value added scores were very high.

The attainment of these children, whose hard work and commitment goes unpublished, also needs recognition.

PETER WILLIAMS, Headteacher, Altham St James' CE Primary School, Burnley Road, Altham.