Top class performers

Children in this country were shown, in the report, to be the third most able readers in the world, School Standards Minister and former Benton Park pupil David Miliband said today.

But he stressed that the Government would be focussing on even greater improvement in literacy and numeracy.

Mr Miliband made his comments with the publication of this year's primary performance tables.

The high standards in literacy are born out by the SATS results in this area.

The vast majority of year six pupils in our area have achieved the government standard of level four - with some schools having a 100 per cent success rate.

Many pupils - up to 73 per cent at St Mary's in Horsforth - have beaten the set standard to reach level 5.

Similar success is apparent in Maths and Science, with very high levels of pupils achieving level five.

Across Leeds as a whole results have improved on last year, and the city's schools are above the national average in all three subjects.

St Joseph's School in Otley is one of the best performing schools - coming fourth for level four performance out of more than 200 schools in the whole of the Leeds area.

One hundred per cent of pupils achieved the required level four in English and science, with 97 per cent attaining the set standard in maths.

An impressive 82 per cent reached level five in science, along with 67 per cent in English and 42 per cent in maths.

School headteacher Mrs Christine Russell said they were delighted with the success achieved by last year's class six.

"We are very, very proud of the children and we have very high expectations of all our pupils.

"The group we had last year were exceptional They were very hard-working and very academic. "

But despite the school's success she pointed out that tables could not give a complete picture.

She argued that much of the hard work and many success stories were not reflected in the tables.

"Some classes, for instance, have a large number of children with special needs and we don't always expect they will achieve academically - but there are other achievements which are not always reflected in the league."

She said St Joseph's had a strong emphasis on social, spiritual, moral and cultural development, and encouraged each child to fulfil their own potential.

"We try to make sure our children have opportunities to develop all aspects of themselves - not just the academic side."

Her views were echoed by other local schools who - while pleased at the success of their pupils - were keen to point out the limitations of tables.

Yeadon Westfield Deputy head, Mrs Andrea Eddison, whose school came 20th for level four performance out of the whole of Leeds, said: "We are always pleased with our results but we are not complacent about them."

But she added: "It is probably not an absolutely true picture.

"Schools which have not achieved as much as we have in the tables have nevertheless worked very hard."

Mrs Elizabeth Snelling, The head of St Mary's School in Horsforth, which came 22nd in Leeds, said they were extremely pleased with the results.

But she stressed: "Everybody has worked very hard - but we don't work to achieve a place in the tables. Our aim is to help each and every child achieve their best. All the children are working towards their own individual goals.

Coun Judith Blake, executive board member with Education Leeds said: "We are extremely proud of these results, which are a credit to the hard work of our pupils, their teachers and support staff. "

She added: "It is also important to remember that our schools place great importance on children's social and emotional development, as well as their health and wellbeing, to ensure that all our children reach their full potential."

Burley and Woodhead Church of England Primary School were third overall in the Bradford LEA. 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.

"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."