KIRKLEES Council has issued a robust defence of its primary school record.

But a councillor has also conceded that work needs to be done with some schools to help them improve.

A council spokesman insisted that results had improved overall in 2011/12 – even though the area finished in a poor position in national league tables.

He also said that children in Kirklees are the most likely in all of the Yorkshire and Humber region to attend a good or outstanding primary school.

Kirklees is also second in the region for good and outstanding secondary schools.

The claims follow the Department of Education (DfE) primary school league tables issued last week which placed Kirklees third from bottom nationally, with 11% of its primary schools’ results being classed as below acceptable standards.

The figures showed that the number of Kirklees seven to 11-year-old pupils gaining level 4 or above in Key Stage 2 English and mathematics increased to 76%.

However, the rate of improvement in Kirklees is slower than the national rate.

The spokesman said the council’s aim was to ensure improvements locally were at the same speed or faster that the rest of the country.

Clr Cath Harris, lead Kirklees Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We recognise the need to develop standards at Key Stage 2 and we have close partnerships with our schools in order to achieve this.

“We also work with individual schools where necessary, but it’s important to remember that raw data and league tables don’t take account of other vital factors, particularly at primary level.

“Kirklees has the highest proportion of children attending good or outstanding primary schools in our whole region, which is a tribute to the talent and commitment of everyone involved.

“This shows that, whilst attainment levels are clearly of high importance, our primary schools also help children to become rounded individuals, to be prepared for the next stage of their lives and to benefit from the wider experience of being at school.

“These achievements reflect a strong curriculum and, as independent inspections have confirmed, many of our schools excel.

“At the same time, because we are a district with diverse communities, we work hard with schools that face particular challenges and we aim to achieve the most consistent standards possible across the system.

“Data from league tables published by the DfE can be interpreted in many ways.”

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