A KIRKLEES primary school is today celebrating the news that it is among the country's top 10.
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Birstall ranks fifth in the country for its Sats results.
The annual test for 11-year-olds covers three subject areas - English, maths and science.
And every one of the 36 children who sat the tests last year achieved level four or above.
Head teacher Mr Anthony Rush, who took up his post in September, said credit should be given to the staff, particularly Sister Gemma, who was head teacher when the tests were taken.
"All we ever want is that children achieve their full potential whatever that may be and to develop their spiritual and moral well-being.
"What matters to us is that we produce rounded children and Sats are only a narrow gauge of that."
The school's achievement is recorded today in the publication of the annual "league tables" of school performances.
Ranking school against a school in terms of the standard of achievement is still a bone of contention for many schools.
And so in response to criticism in previous years by teachers and parents, the government has compiled a new table which shows the progress made by children between the ages of seven and 11.
This new "value added" table has been received much more favourably by schools.
Top of the Kirklees value added league is Moldgreen Junior Infants and Nursery School.
Head teacher Mr Bob Whitehead said: "I think putting the value added score is a move in the right direction by the Government because it shows that children are making progress and it is a better indication of what schools are actually doing.
"It is still a bit of a raw way of doing it but it is better than the league tables.
"As far as we're concerned it's fairer."
School Standards Minister David Miliband said: "We have always said that we will listen to the views of heads, teachers and parents about how the performance tables can provide a more comprehensive and rounded picture of school performance.
"Including value added information does just that. It shows the rates of progress that children make between seven and 11 in different schools."
Golcar Junior Infants and Nursery School was another school which did well in the value-added table.
Head teacher Nigel Miller said: "I feel a little happier that the government is acknowledging the work of all schools instead of just those with the better results, because they are not the only ones who are doing a good job."
He said the new value added system was fairer and going in the right direction but still needed refining.
"For example instead of getting 100% for science we got 98% because one of the children was away on holiday on the day that the test was taken - the results do not take into account any absences.
Among the bottom three schools in the value added table is Wilberlee Junior and Infant School, in Slaithwaite.
Head teacher Mr Richard Bottom said the value added system still had its faults because it did not give an accurate picture where small schools were involved.
He said:
"It is purely down to how the children perform on the day and if one of the children is absent it brings the whole school's score down. It's about time the powers- that-be trusted the teachers."
At the bottom of the Kirklees list, coming in at number 101, is the Christ Church Woodhouse School, in Deighton.
Head teacher Mr Tony Caulton, who took up his post in September this year, said he could not comment on the results of children he did not know.
"But I do know that one class in the school last year had 29 different teachers - so the thing that was clearly lacking was continuity.
"Since September we have had just one supply teacher."
But he said that he has plans to make sure that the school is not at the bottom of the table again.
"We face a long journey ahead, there is no quick fix, but we know where we are going.
"We won't be top of the table but we won't be bottom either.
"And one thing I won't have said in the school is that these children `can't'. These children can if we do things right."
VALUE ADDED CRITERIA
* The value and admission for each school is based on individual pupil progress from key stage one (age seven) to key stage two (aged 11).
* Each pupil's value added score is based on comparing their key stage two performers with the middle performance of other pupils with the same or similar prior attainment at key stage one.
* The individual scores are averaged to give a score which is represented as the number based around 100. This indicates the value of the school has added, on average, for their pupils.
