Smiles galore as local schools hit top marks

local schools hit top marks

SEVERAL Oldham schools have chalked up perfect scores amongst in this year’s primary school league tables.

The tables use several methods to measure the performance of year six pupils in the national curriculum SATs.

And for the first time they include pupils’ results in new spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPG) tests.

Pupils make the expected progress (at least two levels) in all three subjects at five schools: Buckstones; Crompton and St Joseph’s (all Shaw); SS Aiden and Oswald’s (Royton); and St Martin’s (Fitton Hill)

St Joseph’s has the most pupils reaching level 5 (the average for a typical 13-year-old) in the reading, writing and maths tests combined.

For the first time the tables also show how many pupils reached level 6 (the standard expected at age 14).

Some 24 per cent Hey with Zion pupils managed this in maths, the best in the borough, while two pupils from this school were the only ones borough-wide to reach level 6 in the teacher assessment results in science.

Friezland led the way in reading with 7 per cent reaching level 6.

And the SPG test proved challenging with only St Chad’s and Thornham St James’ managing to get all pupils to level 4.

Greenacres has the highest value added score, which shows the individual progress made by pupils, followed by St Martin’s.

Andrew Dickinson, head teacher at St Joseph’s said: “I am not an advocate of league tables because you can’t possibly compare a school in an area we are in with a school in an inner city area.

“But I can’t pretend I am not delighted for the children. The crucial thing is that it’s a whole community effort. You can’t achieve this without the support of parents, an effective teaching team and support staff, strong leadership and early intervention.

“You also need a culture of motivation and expectation. On a weekly basis we have motivational speakers inspiring the children.” 

* 77 per cent of Oldham pupils reached level 4 in maths, reading and writing combined, 75 per cent nationally. Pupils also made better progress locally in all three subjects than the national average.