Primary school exam results at top of the class

THE best performing primary schools in the North East have been revealed after the Government published this year’s key stage 2 Sats results.

And two schools have particular cause for celebration after all of their pupils met the expected standards in reading, writing and maths.

Ebchester CofE Primary School in County Durham and Brandling Primary School in Gateshead saw 100% of year six pupils hit the expected levels in Key Stage 2 assessments in 2017.

National figures show the number of primary school pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths has risen.

But almost 140,000 children across England are being taught at primaries which are falling below the Government’s required standards.

The figures show the North East has the lowest percentage of schools failing to meet government standards outside London.

In total 14 North East schools failed the ‘floor standard’ set down by the government in its assessment of this year’s Sats – just less than 2%.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said the results showed teachers and pupils have “responded well to the new more rigorous curriculum”.

Last year, after major changes were made to assessments, 180,743 pupils (4.1% of all children at mainstream primaries) were attending 665 schools which failed to reach the threshold.

Mr Gibb said: “Teachers and pupils have responded well to the new more rigorous curriculum introduced by this Government and these pupils were the first to benefit from the new approach to phonics.”

He added: “There are now 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010, with nine out of 10 primary schools given this rating at their last inspection – and our recent rise up the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls) rankings puts the success of our reforms and the hard work of teachers on a global scale.

“This means that pupils are now leaving primary school better prepared for the rigours of secondary school and for future success in their education.”

NORTH EAST’S SATS GRADES BEST OUTSIDE OF LONDON AT YEAR SIX LEVEL