CHILDREN, staff and parents in Mirfield were jumping for joy today.
They are pupils at two of the town’s schools which achieved first and second place in key stage two league tables for Kirklees.
But there was upset in Lockwood and Sheepridge, as two others were named in the worst 200 in the country, for results in English and mathematics.
Mount Pleasant Junior, Infant and Nursery School, which achieved just 37% and Our Lady of Lourdes (43%), both ended up in the list of the bottom primary schools in the country.
Keith Ford, acting headteacher at Mount Pleasant in Lockwood since September said: “We let the children down last year and the school has recognised that we were simply not good enough.
“To say I am incensed is an understatement. We are working hard to ensure that next year we will exceed all expectations.”
By contrast, Hopton Primary School and Crowlees CE Junior and Infant School achieved 100% and 98% respectively for the tests held this summer for 10 and 11-year-olds in maths and English.
Many schools across the country controversially boycotted this year’s tests because teachers claim they undermine children’s education and place undue pressure on pupils.
Unions said the boycott would mean the test results would be meaningless because of the numbers taking part. Around half of all schools in Kirklees did not take part in the tests and no data is therefore available for them.
But Andrew Blakeley, headteacher at Hopton said he was delighted with the results which the children had achieved.
Every child in year six who sat the tests last May achieved at least a level four, which is the government’s benchmark for the tests.
“They represent a fair reward for all the hard work which the children have achieved,” he said.
Mr Blakeley said the school worked hard as a team and valued the input of children, parents, governors and staff.
“We provide an environment which is relaxed and fun but which challenges the children and we are always looking for the next step for our children. We personalise their learning as much as possible,” he said.
Mr Blakeley added that Mirfield had many good schools and those within the pyramid worked closely together to achieve the very best for children in the community.
David Hardcastle, headteacher at Crowlees CE Junior and Infant School, said: “As a school we are proud of the children and all their efforts. League tables are only one small part of what schools do and there are many schools doing marvellous things which may not fair particularly well in league tables, but are still working hard for their children.”
Our Lady of Lourdes School was unable to provide a comment.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “These figures show that many primary schools are providing a first-class education for their pupils – indeed, in more than 100 schools every child achieved the expected level in both English and maths, and progressed at the rate we’d expect in those subjects.
“But we want every child, at every school, to fulfil their potential.
“Currently half of all 10-and 11-year-old boys who qualify for free school meals are being let down by our education system. It is unacceptable that after seven years of primary school these children are not at the standard in English and maths that they need to flourish at secondary school”.
The figures to the right of the school name indicate the percentage of pupils achieving level 4+ in both English and mathematics in 2009 and 2010.
SCHOOL
Hopton Primary School 100 95
Crowlees C of E Voluntary Controlled J&I School 98 98
Rowley Lane JI&N School 95 85
Mill Lane Junior Infant and Early Years School 94 47
St John's C of E Voluntary Aided J&I School 94 91
Hartshead J&I School 91 80
St Paulinus Catholic Primary School 91 88
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Huddersfield) 90 91
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School 89 74
Birkenshaw Middle School 88 83
Nields JI&N School 88 82
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Birstall 88 76
South Crosland C of E (VA) Jun School 88 89
Lindley Junior School 87 91
Newsome Junior School 86 93
Upperthong Junior and Infant School 86 84
Crossley Fields Junior and Infant School 85 90
Hanging Heaton C of E (VC) J&I School 85 96
Moldgreen Community Primary School 84 71
Moorlands Primary School 84 84
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Batley 83 68
Beech Early Years Infant and Junior School 82 64
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Huddersfield 82 73
Hinchliffe Mill J&I School 81 88
Hade Edge J&I School 80 71
Battyeford C of E (VC) Primary School 79 75
Wooldale Junior School 79 69
Netherthong Primary School 77 88
Kirkburton Middle School 76 69
Crow Lane Primary and Foundation Stage School 75 55
Millbridge JI&N School 75 85
Kirklees 75 71
Marsden Junior School 74 68
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Dewsbury) 74 75
Westmoor Junior School 73 64
Brownhill St Saviour's C of E (VA) Jun School, Batley 72 72
Bywell C of E (VC) Jun School 72 69
High Bank First and Nursery School, Hightown 71 N/A
Thornhill Junior and Infant School 69 82
Whitechapel Middle School 69 71
Kirkheaton Primary School 68 67
Rawthorpe Junior School 67 67
Chickenley Community JI&Nursery School 66 43
Cowlersley Primary School 65 62
Headlands C of E (VC) JI&N School 65 76
Lydgate Junior and Infant School 65 77
Linthwaite Ardron C of E (VA) J&I School 64 92
West End Middle School 63 68
Cawley Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School 59 67
Crosland Moor Junior School 52 53
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School 43 67
Mount Pleasant Junior Infant and Nursery School 37 38
Longley School 0 N/A
Ravenshall School 0 0