STAFF and pupils at St Cuthbert & The First Martyrs Catholic Primary are celebrating after the new Key Stage 2 figures showed they were one of the top performing schools in the region.

The percentage of children reaching the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined was 89 per cent. The National figure is 61 per cent, and the figure for Bradford is 56 per cent.

This puts St Cuthbert’s, on Scotchman Road, Manningham, in the top four per cent of schools nationally.

The Key Stage 2 data also showed that 100 per cent of pupils gained the expected standard in Maths, compared to a national 75 per cent standard and Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (national 77 per cent), 96 per cent in Reading (national 71 per cent) and 89 per cent in Writing (national 76 per cent).

The Progress score for reading was +5.63, putting the school in the top three per cent of schools nationally. The Progress score in Maths was +5.62 - in the top two per cent of schools nationally for the second year running.

Daniel Copley, Executive Headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the outcomes for 2017 as they have now improved year on year for the past three years. This makes St Cuthbert’s progress and attainment results are very high compared with national, regional and Bradford district figures. The school performs as well as it does because as leaders, staff and governors we are all extremely ambitious for the children in our school community. As a team, we work hard to engage parents, motivate our children and ensure they get the very best education every day. We have high aspirations for all the children in school.”

Mr Copley and staff at St Cuthbert’s were also selected for top roles supporting schools in challenging circumstances and training new teachers in June this year. He is one of more than 75 headteachers to be appointed to the role of national leader of education in the latest recruitment round.

The school also has two teachers who have been designated as Specialist Leaders of Education - Stevie Burgess and Sarah Walsh. Their work involves supporting other schools, through The Catholic Schools Partnership Teaching School Alliance and partnerships while also ensuring the best teaching and provision at St Cuthbert & The First Martyrs.