You're simply the best

The figures include results of key stage two SATs tests taken at age 11 and a new value added figure to compare pupils' progress between key stage one, from age five to seven, and key stage two, aged eight to 11.

Wiltshire County Council's director of education Bob Wolfson said he was pleased with the results.

He said: "The Wiltshire key stage two results continue to be close to the national averages. This year the English results have just exceeded the all England average for the first time.

"I am particularly pleased that a number of our low attaining schools have made substantial improvements this year.

"This year we have also seen a number of changes to the format and content of the tests which makes it difficult to compare the trends in performance across time, but we are pleased with our schools' progress and look for further improvements in years to come."

Mr Wolfson added: "I would like to congratulate all the young people and those who taught and supported them on their results. I am well aware of the hard work that goes on in all Wiltshire's schools to enable youngsters to do their very best."

The new value added column was introduced by the Department for Education and Skills after a successful pilot scheme in 495 schools across the country last year.

The column is intended to allow fairer comparison to be made between schools with different intakes. It measures the progress made by children between key stage one and two, instead of just looking at their key stage two marks.

Dick Mattick, secretary of the teachers' union NASUWT says many learning problems could be quickly dealt with if they are spotted before the child reaches primary school

He said: "It's time we started to look at the pre-school years.

"When children enter their first year of learning they should be well on the way to reading and writing.

"Often teachers will be able to help one or two in the class who are having problems, but when half the school are at that stage, as they are in some schools, it is going to be a big struggle."

In addition, he says matters are not helped by under-funding.

He claims that although cash is going to schools it is not filtering through to the classroom.

"The Government needs to think about what it is doing," he said.

"We are in a situation where you 'see the money now you don't'.

"It's being swallowed by increased pension contributions, when in fact it needs to be spent on books and other resources."

In north Wiltshire, Hullavington Primary School was top of the form with an average SATs tests point score of 31 and a value added score of 101.9.

Other schools with good results included Derry Hill School, Earl Danby in Brinkworth, St Nicholas in Baydon and Seend Primary School.

Kennet Valley School, at East Kennett, near Marlborough, also fared well, and was the only school in Wiltshire to score 100 per cent in the SATs tests for English.

Fynamore School in Calne and Corsham Regis had less impressive results receiving a 25.8 score.

Seend Primary School again did well in the performance tables.

Although not as good as last year's results the school's aggregate score in the children achieving level four in English, maths and science was 272.

The school also did well in the value added category, scoring 101.7.

Headteacher Christine Ramsay said: "We are especially delighted that the value added was so good because it is important that all our children do their best no matter what their ability."

St Barnabas Primary School in Market Lavington also did well in the value added category scoring 100.1, which places it in the middle ranking 20 per cent of schools

nationally.

Headteacher Simon White said: "The Government is taking into account schools which have different levels of intakes. One of the frustrating things is if a school has a very affluent or able intake it can appear much better than another school."

The school's overall score on results in English, maths and science went up from 196 to 223.

Rowde Primary School scored 274 points overall for the three subjects exactly the same as last year.

Headteacher David Ball said: "We are very pleased for the children as it was a year group that had a number of special needs children in it and all of them performed brilliantly."

Peter Chambers, headteacher at St Nicholas Primary School at Baydon, near Marlborough, put the success of the school in achieving an average SATS test point score of 30.3 as a mixture of dedicated staff and hard-working pupils.

He said: "Our ethos has always been in making learning fun. The children enjoy coming to school each day and if they enjoy working, they will do well educationally. It is all a question of working hard and playing hard.

"This very positive atmosphere makes it a great place to be. Even the teachers enjoy coming to work each day."

The school currently has 98 pupils on the roll, but this will go up to 100 after Christmas. It is in stark contrast to ten years ago, when there were 60 pupils at the school.

Mr Chambers said: "We have been hovering around the 100 mark for the last two years."

Headteacher of Hullavington Primary School John Barlow, who started the role in September, put the school's success down the teachers' skill and the children's desire to learn.

He said: "I feel very privileged to be working here. One of the great strengths of Hullavington CofE Primary School is the welcome it gives to everyone new to the village.

"I'm so pleased to be able to join the celebration of this academic success, I have found it to be a lovely school with a very friendly atmosphere

"This is a result of the skill and commitment of all the staff and of the children's love of learning."

He also paid tribute to his predecessor Judy McAteer and the governors for their help.

"Finally, I must congratulate last year's Year 6 children and I wish them every success for a bright future," he said.

In the Swindon area top of the table Lethbridge Primary School has an extra reason to celebrate after it failed to make even the top 10 last year.

While many schools in Swindon are struggling to raise standards particularly in English Lethbridge Primary School has recorded a set of results any school in the country would be proud of with 94 per cent of it's pupils passing English, maths and 99 per cent passing science.

Modest headteacher Ray Norman says he is proud of his staff and pupils, but adds that league tables are a poor way of examining success.

He said: "I have to say that am not keen on league tables. We prefer to look at results over a longer period of time.

"We try to do our best by our pupils and we are aware that other schools in Swindon are doing the same.

"Every school wants to do the best for its pupils. Putting them into a pecking order doesn't really help those members of staff who find they are up against it.

"In some schools circumstances prevail against them so it makes their improvements even more remarkable."

Nythe Primary School in Swindon is also celebrating coming joint top for science with 100 per cent of pupils

attaining level four.

Headteacher Debbie Kalynka said: "This is a reflection of the hard work that we have put in over the past year.

"We have had problems in the past but we are working hard to put that

behind us."

Mrs Kalynka arrived at the school in Nythe Road 18 months ago when threats of closures fuelled by dropping pupil numbers hung in the air.

It was also, at that time, in "special measures" a term used to describe a period of constant monitoring by HM Inspectors.

"The teachers are all extremely dedicated and they do their best for the children not just those who we expect to do well in exams," she said.

"Our teachers do not simply teach to the test they are passing on skills that they will need in later life."

The headteacher acknowledged that league tables do not always serve as the best indicator of a school's progress.

"They are just one small indicator of what is going on in a school generally and it is important that they are viewed as such," she said.