County's pupils are performing well (From Gazette Series)

County's pupils are performing well

GLOUCESTERSHIRE pupils have again gained excellent results in national tests for 11-year-olds in the 2003 primary school performance tables.

Overall the county's results continue to be above average for England and tables show that 77.8 percent of Gloucestershire pupils reached at least the expected level (four) in English, 76.8 percent in maths and 90.8 percent in science.

Pupils also shone in their achievements at level five, which is above the expected level for 11-year-olds. Children were well above national averages for this, showing particularly excellent results in science, where 47.7 percent of pupils were at the higher level.

Cllr Charmian Sheppard, county council cabinet member for education for children and young people), said: "Once again Gloucestershire pupils have achieved excellent results which are a tribute to the hard work of our children, the skills of their teachers and the support of parents. Everyone should be extremely proud of what has been achieved.

"Test results are only one way of measuring how our children are progressing. Nevertheless the latest tables prove just what a credit our children and staff in schools are to the county."

For the first time a value-added measure has been included in the tables. This measures the progress pupils make between key stage one and key stage two and is intended to allow a fairer comparison of schools. This shows that the county as a whole is performing above average.

The council has published the tables on its website, www.gloucestershire.gov.uk, while people who do not have their own computer can access the website at libraries, where computer sessions can be booked free.