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