KIRKLEES has one of the worst records in England for its primary schools, it emerged today.

In performance league tables published today by the Department for Education (DfE), the council emerged as the third worst in the country for English and maths Key Stage 2 results for between seven and 11-year-olds in primary schools.

Some 11% of Kirklees’ 104 primary schools are classed as “below the floor” – or falling below acceptable Government standards.

Only Portsmouth and Nottingham have worse records, both with 16% of schools which are failing.

According to the DfE, some schools may face being taken out of local authority control by becoming academies with sponsors.

Yorkshire and the Humber is the worst region in the country with 6% (89) of its primary schools failing to meet required standards in English and maths and not improving quickly enough.

The results come after the DfE last year raised the bar for its for primary school targets in a bid to drive up standards.

Schools where fewer than 60% of pupils achieve the expected level (Level 4) in English and maths combined are now deemed to be below the floor.

Ashbrow Junior School once again finished at the bottom of the Kirklees table, with just 35% of pupils achieving the required results in English and maths.

Top of the class again was Crowlees C of E Junior and Infants, Mirfield, where 100% of their 60 eligible pupils achieved Level 4.

Wilberlee and Holme Junior and Infant schools also gained top marks.

Kirklees’ disappointing results come at a time of a nationally improving picture. Last year, 1,310 primary schools failed to make the grade, compared with just 476 this time.

In 2011, Kirklees finished 100th out of 152 local authorities with three schools in the country’s bottom 200.

A DfE spokesman said: “This Government brought in higher primary school floor targets with one aim in mind – to drive up standards with immediate effect to end years of chronic under-performance.

“The floor standards we introduced were tougher and have improved performance.

“Schools with a long history of under-performance, and who are not stepping up to the mark, face being taken over by an Academy sponsor.

“The expertise and strong leadership provided by sponsors is the best way to turn around weak schools and give pupils there the best chance of a first-class education.”

The statistics were released yesterday afternoon and Kirklees Council was unable to provide a response in time for today’s newspaper.

See the full list of schools and marks on pages two and three

More schools on next page

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