Ilkley's primary schools have again performed well in the latest league tables published today.

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School on Valley Drive has been ranked top school in Bradford for the second successive year in tables based upon performance by 11-year-olds in Key Stage Two Standard Assess-ment Tests last May.

All the schools in the Ilkley area achieved results above national average and way above averages for the Bradford local education authority.

Caroline Lynott, acting head teacher at Sacred Heart School, said: "We have come top in Bradford which wasn't totally unexpected because we came top in Bradford last year, but we have been told we are fourth in the country which isn't bad going."

Asked what she put the success down to, Mrs Lynott said: "Hard work from everybody and everybody playing a part - the children enjoy their work and it is a very happy school.

"They are well supported by parents and the governors and the teaching staff. We have had two very good Ofsted reports as well.

"We consistently have good Ofsted reports which is about the school as a whole. The last one was in January 2002. As a consequence we were mentioned in the chief inspector's report.

"I think the main thing is that it is a combination of factors. We are very, very lucky to have supportive parents and governors - everybody works together - it is a team effort."

But Mrs Lynott warned against over-emphasising SATS results at the expense of taking other factors into account when assessing schools.

"I think you have to be careful not to put all your eggs in one basket.

"I am really delighted with the success of the school - but it is not just the league tables which make us a successful school."

The school to achieve the third highest results in the district was Burley and Woodhead Church of England Primary School.

Shirley Moffat, assistant head teacher of the school in Sandholme Drive, Burley-in-Wharfedale, said: "The success is down to a whole team effort from reception through to Year six.

"We have a fantastic professional staff to enable all the children achieve their best. It is not just year six - it starts with reception when they first come into school."

Of the 45 pupils who sat the tests at Addingham Primary, 84 per cent achieved Level Four or above at English, 82 per cent Maths and 98 per cent at Science.

At Ashlands Primary School, Leeds Road, Ilkley, 84 per cent of pupils achieved Level Four in English, 73 per cent in Maths and 89 per cent in Science.

Jenni McDonough, head teacher at Ashlands, said she was pleased with the results.

"It is what we expected and the results reflect the group of children which took them," said Mrs McDonough.

Burley and Woodhead Church of England Primary School were third best school in the Bradford authority.

Shirley Moffat, assistant head teacher of the school in Sandholme Drive, Burley-in-Wharfedale, said: "The success is down to a whole team effort from reception through to Year six.

"We have a fantastic professional staff to enable all the children achieve their best. It is not just year six - it starts with reception when they first come into school."

Menston Primary School was 14th and head teacher, Simon Camby, said: "We were very pleased with the outcomes. They demonstrate the high standards and expectations of all staff in the school.

"However, the SATs are only one measure of progress and we recognise that there are many other factors which are equally important. Of course, congratulations must go to the children who all work so hard."

Roy Pallas, head teacher of Burley Oaks Primary School, Langford Lane, Burley-in-Wharfedale said his school's SATS results were very much in line with the results from the previous two years. They were placed 18th.

"We are very pleased with out results. Success is due to the quality of teaching and the commitment of the pupils, which is very much supported by the attitude of the parents.

Head of Ilkley's All Saints Primary School, Peter Marsh, welcomed his school's achievements, but criticised the SATs league tables system.

"They are nothing more than a snapshot of one day in a child's life at school. I as headteacher don't feel they truly reflect what schools are about," said Mr Marsh.

He added: "I think assessment is a key to moving a child's learning on, so I'm not 'anti-test', but I think producing them as league tables is not giving a full picture of a school. Some children don't rise to the challenge of being formally tested."

However, he said every child met the targets set for them at All Saints, and he believed all the Wharfe Valley's schools had done well.