THRESHFIELD Primary School climbed to the top of the class this week by achieving a perfect score in the year six attainment tests.

All 15 pupils taking the tests in English, maths and science gained a level four or above, giving the school full marks of 300.

Level four is considered to be the benchmark that year six pupils are expected to reach.

Threshfield was the only school in Craven that could boast flawless results.

While staff, parents and governors are thrilled with the results, the school is keen to highlight that league tables do not always provide a true reflection of schools.

Chairman of governors Peter Huff said: "Publishing such basic data about schools is not an accurate guide to how good a school is, especially in small schools like ours.

"Children with special educational needs may not reach level four, but have actually worked much harder than a child who does. All governors look carefully at their school's results and look at the progress of individual children, rather than statistics, so that we can celebrate everyone's success."

Following close behind Threshfield was Carleton, which gained 100 per cent in maths and science and 95 per cent in English, and Sutton County Primary, which achieved scores of 95 per cent in English and maths and 98 per cent in science.

Boyle and Petyt School at Beamsley also featured in this year's league tables for the first time, recording a score of 283 out of 300. Due to its small number of pupils, it often does not have enough students taking the exam to be included in the results.

Headteacher Steve Roberts said: "Whilst we are obviously delighted to see that our results are well above the average both for England and North Yorkshire, we do feel that although tests in English, mathematics and science are very important, in our school we place equal emphasis on the wider development of our children through a broad, balanced curriculum."

In West Craven Earby Springfield Primary School recorded the best results for the past four years, with 253.

Acting headteacher Wendy Dedman said: "Our continuing success is down to the brilliant teaching team we have, the excellent support staff, the hard work the children put in and undoubtedly to the fantastic leadership of former headteacher Wendy Tracey over the last five years."

Salterforth Primary School gained 200 marks out of a possible 300. Headteacher Gill Ackroyd said: "We were very pleased with our SATs results this year, although not the best that the school has achieved, each set of children have to strive to do their very best and this is what these pupils did.

"Quite a few of this particular year group have the protection of a Statement for the Special Needs and achieved very well within their own potential.

"Unfortunately the league tables do not take this into account and insist we include pupils who did not even enter for the tests in our percentages. What a different picture that would paint."