THE number of Bradford children achieving good grades in their last year of primary school has increased once again, despite the district remaining one of the lowest performing in the country.

According to the 2014/15 primary school performance tables released this morning, 76 per cent of pupils in their final year of primary school in Bradford achieved Level 4 or above in both reading and maths tests and in writing over the summer, up from 73 per cent last year and 69 per cent the year before.

But despite the improvements Bradford is one of the lowest ranked local authorities in the country and in the bottom 11 of 152 councils. Other authorities with the same percentage of pupils achieving expected results were Norfolk, Walsall and Worcestershire.

HOW YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL RANKS: Bradford primary school league table for 2014/15

The results come just a week after Bradford was criticised by Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw in his annual report, where he described the district's education standards as being "mired in mediocrity."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Executive Member for Education, Skills and Culture on Bradford Council, said: “I'm pleased that the number of children doing well at primary schools in our district has increased and that the gap with the national results has narrowed.

"However we all know that there is still more to do. The whole of the district is on board with the Bradford Education Covenant which commits every section of the community to play their part in accelerating progress. I also acknowledge the ongoing hard work of teachers and children in driving up standards.” 

Michael Jameson, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: “These figures show another annual improvement in our primary schools, so we are heading in the right direction. But there is much more to do and we are working at pace to accelerate these improvements.

"Our school improvement strategy has been approved by Ofsted, we have built stronger partnerships between schools than ever before and we are working closely with other agencies to transform education standards throughout the district.”

Councillor Debbie Davies, Conservative spokesman for education on Bradford Council, said: "Even a bit of progress is positive, and improvement does take time. Hopefully this trend continues.

"Teacher recruitment remains a problem in those schools that aren't doing very well. We need to let the schools that are doing well get on with it and help the schools that aren't as much as we can.

"We can't expect Bradford to leap 50 places in the school league tables overnight."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, the Liberal Democrat leader on Bradford Council, said: "Even though we have made small improvements this year we are not improving fast enough, and we are still letting lots of children down. We need to try and find new ways of improving children's learning."

Below Bradford, Peterborough had 75 per cent of children reaching the target, Bedford, Doncaster, and Luton had 74 per cent, Medway Towns and Poole had 73 per cent and bottom ranked Scilly Isles had 69 per cent.

Top ranked City of London, had 96 per cent of its Year 7 pupils achieve these targets, followed by Kensington and Chelsea at 91 per cent, and Richmond-upon-Thames at 88 per cent.

Bradford's neighbouring councils Leeds and Kirklees both had 78 per cent of pupils achieving target grades and in Calderdale the result was 81 per cent.

In the Bradford district, 15 schools fall below the government's "floor standard" this year. Schools that do not meet the standard are those where fewer than 65 per cent of pupils achieve level 4 in reading, writing and maths, and pupils do not make the progress expected of them.

The previous year 20 schools fell below the standard.

Addingham Primary School was the best performing in the district during the last academic year, according to the league tables.

The school, in Bolton Road, Ilkley, had 97 per cent of its pupils achieve expected grades in reading, writing and maths, and moved up from 34th place, to top the primary school performance tables in Bradford.

It was followed by St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School in Manningham in second with 97 per cent, up from 19th place the previous year, and Burley Oaks Primary School in Ilkley in third with 96 per cent.

Burley and Woodhead CofE Primary School came in at fourth and Copthorne Primary School in inner city Bradford was fifth.

Hilary Cave, head of Addingham Primary School, said: "We have an amazing team of teaching and non-teaching staff here, who are incredibly talented and dedicated. We all work hard to provide many opportunities for the children to be nurtured, through drama, dance, singing, sport and the arts.

"Over the last three years, during my time as headteacher, it has been lovely to see Addingham Primary School's journey, one I know will continue to flourish and develop."

Daniel Copley, is the executive headteacher of the St Cuthbert's and The First Martyrs Primary School and St Francis Primary School, which came ninth in the table.

He said: "Engagement with parents has been key in getting to this level in both schools, along with the commitment from our governors, teachers and staff. These results are a credit to governors, staff parents and the children."

St James Church Primary School in Allerton in came in the lowest position, at 156, with just 44 per cent of pupils gaining expected grades. 

Elaine Young, Headteacher at St James' Church Primary School, said: "As a school we are aware of the challenges we face and are taking the urgent actions needed to improve standards. 

"Ofsted reported that we have a 'steely determination' to deliver the necessary improvements and we are also benefitting from strong partnerships with other schools, the local authority and the diocese. The improvements already underway will be accelerated and spread throughout the school as quickly as possible."