Still strong Bury schools fall in national league

Figures released yesterday show the borough performed third best in Greater Manchester and sixth in the north west.

Among the successes are a Radcliffe school ranked in the top 20 most improved schools nationwide since 2000.

The results are based on how 11-year-olds performed in this summer's Standard Attainment Task tests (SATs). They measure the percentage of pupils who achieve level four or above, the standard level for that age group, in the core subjects of English, maths and science.

In English, Bury's 60 primary schools had 77.4 per cent of pupils achieving level four or above. In maths the result was 74.9 per cent and in science 89 per cent. The national average figures are 75, 73 and 87 per cent.

However, Bury's national position has dropped from 13 to 41 among the 151 education authorities in England.

Placed first in the local table for the third year running is Lowercroft Primary School in Ashington Drive, Bury, where 100 per cent of 11-year-olds met standards in all three subjects for the third year running.

The school also came first in the borough under "value added" figures which register improvements between the ages of seven and 11.

But while welcoming the results, head teacher Jean Boardman remained critical of league tables. She said: "It is very nice to be in my position and I am very proud of all the hard work of our pupils, the support of our parents and the dedicated professionalism of staff. However I do not agree with the league tables.

"They do not take into account the fact that schools, parents and pupils may be working very hard to improve results and they make unfair comparisons.

"For those placed at the bottom of the league it must be demoralising and soul-destroying."

St John's CE Primary School in Johnson Street is not only the most improved school in Radcliffe, it is the most improved school in the entire borough.

This year its combined score for all three subjects has increased by 45 to 253, making it the 18th most improved school in the country since 2000.

Headteacher Elaine Standring said: "It is lovely news, but at the end of the day the most important thing is that the children enjoy coming to our school and are able to fulfil their potential.

"I have wonderful and dedicated staff and governors who have pulled together. It's a real team effort."

The school that performed poorest under the controversial system is East Ward Community Primary School in Willow Street, Bury, with a total score of 175.

Head teacher Mrs Jill Hazzelby said that figures had been affected by their high number of special needs children.

She added that a recent intake of youngsters speaking no English had affected value added figures.

Mrs Hazzelby said: "We are a very inclusive school and never turn anyone away. The tables do not take into consideration that some schools have a lot of children with no English.

"We normally do very well in the value added calculations, but many of our cohort arrived after the age of seven, which affected our figures."

Since Radcliffe Primary School only came into existence in September, following the amalgamation of Radcliffe County Infant School and Radcliffe County Junior School, it has not been included in this year's performance tables.

Councillor Steve Perkins, Bury Council's executive member for lifelong learning, said the results were positive in spite of the borough's below-average funding.

He said: "It's a solid performance. Last year's results were very good and this year is still very good. There will always be a little movement between authorities, but what we must focus upon is the work going on in individual schools.

"Funding has gone up a bit, but it is still difficult to try new initiatives. A lot of money that schools receive must be used for basic provision."

Best In Radcliffe.

CAMS Lane Primary School is the top performing school in Radcliffe, according to primary school league tables published today.

Cams Lane pupils scored 84 per cent in English, 81 per cent in maths and 94 per cent in science - all higher than the national averages. In relation to the 60 primary schools across the entire borough, Cams Lane is in joint 21st place with a score of 259.

Headteacher of Cams Lane Gerald Ashforth said: "It's a huge thrill and we never expected it. It may sound corny but our result is down to hard work, especially by Cath Cooper who teaches this year group."

He added: "We are a school that wants all our pupils to do well. It's good to know we are doing something right."

St Mary's earns Praise.

TOP marks in the south of the borough went to St Mary's CE Aided Primary in Prestwich.

The Rectory Lane school has shot up to 8th place in the borough tables from 16th last year, and showed the joint highest improvement in Prestwich and Whitefield.

It saw 100 percent per cent of pupils achieve above average results in science, with the figures of 97 per cent in maths and 90 per cent in English.

Head Brian Richards said: "Whilst there are many other indicators which help us to recognise effective schools we can still celebrate being the SATS number one in the area.

"The result is pleasing also as we have a family of very good schools in Prestwich and Bury is a top exam authority.

"At St Mary's we have all this and that makes for an environment where children like to be and like to learn.

"And like all Bury schools we do this on what would be a shoestring budget in other local authorities."