Top-class results for our county’s schools

9:09am Thursday 6th December 2007

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DORSET primary school pupils are celebrating some first-class results.

The 11-year-olds' performances in English, maths and science Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) place Dorset 32nd out of 150 local education authorities in the country.

This means the county has retained its position as one of the top-ranking education spots in the country with an improved aggregate score of 253.

In 2006, Dorset was ranked 30th with a combined aggregate score of 250.

The tests, taken in May 2007, show how each school is performing by returning an average score based on Year Six pupils' results. And the results have shown some real success stories in South and West Dorset.

Top of the class was Salway Ash Primary School near Bridport, with an average points score of 30.6. Every pupil achieved the level four benchmark standard in all three core subjects and a combined aggregate score of 300 - bettering last year's aggregate score of 280.

Level four is the required standard for English, maths and science the Government says 11-year-olds should reach.

Salway Ash's outstanding results place it among the top 200 primary schools in England.

Headteacher Lisa Crew said: "I'm pleased we've been joint top of the league tables for four out of the last five years.

"Our pupils with special needs and learning difficulties all achieve well and our children, staff and governors all work extremely hard."

Other schools in Dorset achieving the same flawless standard were Burton Bradstock Primary School and Thornford C of E Primary School near Sherborne.

On Portland, pupils at Southwell Primary School were celebrating a top-ranking average points score of 30.3.

Some 94 per cent of pupils achieved level four in English, while 90 per cent achieved the same level in maths - an improvement of 51 per cent on last year's results. In science, 97 per cent reached level four.

Headteacher Stuart McLeod said he was delighted with the results achieved by last year's Year Six intake.

He added: "We have had improvement over two years now.

"When the children entered the school they were lower than average for the expected level of four-year-olds.

"Their performance is down to good teaching and excellent support from the parents."