IT'S OFFICIAL- Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley primary schools are improving.

National assessment tests scores released last week revealed the majority of schools across Journal-land are performing well.

And proud headteacher of Lowton St Catherine's RC Primary School, Elizabeth Connelly, heaped praise on her pupils this week after the school came top in Wigan.

Mrs Connelly said she was delighted with her students and said they had worked "extremely hard."

She said: "We are fortunate at St Catherine's to have very supportive parents, and dedicated teaching staff who are committed to providing a rich curriculum that meets the needs of the whole child.

"With the encouragement and excellent training from Wigan Education Department we feel we are part of a positive team that works hard for all its children in the authority."

The 216-pupil school saw all 26 of the final year children scoring top marks in English and science subjects and 25 of the children achieved the top marks in maths.

The tests were taken during the summer by pupils thoughout England and Wales in their final primary school year - called Key Stage Two. They measure pupils' achievements against a national benchmark.

Nearly two out of three of all 11-year-olds in Wigan reached Government target levels in English and mathematics.

And even more - four out of every five pupils - achieved the level in science.

In English, the average number of pupils in the borough achieving the required level was 74.4% an increase on last year's figures of 3%.

In mathematics this year's figure was 73.4% - a 1% rise on last year - while in science local pupils scored 85% compared to 79.5% last year.

And Shakerley CE Primary School, Tyldesley, which came bottom in the borough in both science and maths, half of the pupils achieved level four in science. In maths the school acheived 36%, also the lowest in Wigan.

Cllr Brian Wilson, Wigan's Cabinet Member for Lifelong learning said : "The steady improvement in results evident in these tables has not happened by chance. Teachers, parents, children and LEA support staff should all take credit.

"National strategies to improve numeracy and literacy have been embraced with enthusiasm in Wigan.

"We continue to make steady progress towards the ambitious targets we have set ourselves for 2002. We aspire to achieve 85% of Wigan 11-year-olds gaining level 4 or above in English and 80% in maths."

Director of Education Bob Clark said there was no room for complacency and there would be a big push to boost low achievement in boys' writing.

While congratulating schools which performed well, Mr Clark said the tables should not be used as the sole method of judging a school.

He added: "The tables are frequently used to make crude judgements about schools' performance. These figures need to be set alongside many other factors - especially the extent to which schools are catering for children with special needs.

"Parents need to get a broader view by studying the Ofsted inspection reports and by visiting the school for themselves."