Primary Schools get top marks (From Gazette Series)

Primary Schools get top marks

PRIMARY schools in the Gazette area have performed well in the recently released Key Stage 2 test results table.

The tests, in English, maths and science, are taken by pupils in Year 6 before they enter secondary education. Pupils are expected to achieve level 4 or above.

The Gloucestershire results table includes 17 schools from the Dursley, Wotton-under-Edge and Berkeley areas.

Leighterton Primary, North Nibley Primary and the British School in Wotton-under-Edge all excelled in the Gloucestershire local education authority (LEA) area, each achieving a 100 percent level 4 results in one or more of the Key Stage 2 subjects.

Leighterton Primary School achieved a 100 percent level 4 in English and science. North Nibley School achieved a 100 percent rate level 4 in English and the British School in Wotton-under-Edge achieved a 100 percent level 4 in science.

The average percentage of pupils achieving level 4 in the Gloucestershire LEA was 83 percent for English, 78 percent for mathematics and 91 percent for science.

The Key Stage 2 table also gives each school a value-added measure to help parents assess whether a school has contributed to or hindered a student's progress since the Key Stage 1 tests, which are taken by most pupils at the age of 6.

Anything above 100 in the value-added measure is considered a positive contribution made by the school over and above the pupils' natural abilities. The average value-added measure for Gloucestershire schools in 2005 is 100.4.

Most of the primary schools in the Gazette area achieved higher than this county average including Berkeley Primary School which achieved 101.5 and Cam Hopton Primary school which was awarded 101.6.

Headteacher at Cam Hopton, Paul Weekes, said it is the value-added measure that really says something about the school and he is delighted at Cam Hopton's success.

"We are most pleased about the value-added measure because the raw results don't tell you everything but the value added is based on the student's progress," he said.

"We are very pleased with this year's results."

Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for schools, Cllr Joan Nash, said the council was pleased with the performance of its primary schools.

"I am delighted that Gloucestershire pupils have achieved such good results compared with national figures," she said.

"These results also reflect the dedication of the staff in our schools.

"I hope that these children will continue to succeed throughout their school years and will take advantage of the education offered in this county."