Kirklees primary schools in bottom 50, league tables show

LEAGUE TABLES Results have improved since last year.

But attainment has improved overall in 2012-2013.

The percentage of pupils gaining at least Level 4 in reading, writing and mathematics tests was 74 per cent, an increase of two per cent on last year.

The Key Stage 2 figures, released by the Department of Education, are broadly in line with the national average – which is 75 per cent. Kirklees comes 105th out of 152 local authorities.

Coun Peter O’Neill, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “One of our priorities is to ensure the improvements we make at Key Stage 2 keep pace with, or exceed, the national rate of change.

“This has been achieved in 2012/13, which is down to the hard work of schools staff, the council and, of course, local children and families.

“There is more work to be done and we are all determined to strengthen this position. In close partnership with schools across the district, we are continuing to aim high.

“These improvements at Key Stage 2 also follow our pleasing GCSE performance – over the last three years our GCSEs have improved by over nine per cent – and they show that educational standards are high in Kirklees.”

Schools where fewer than 60 per cent of pupils achieved at least the expected level four in reading, writing and maths tests, and where low numbers of pupils failed to make the expected levels of progress in all three areas between the ages of seven and 11, face being taken over.

In North Kirklees, five schools failed to reach the floor standards – Boothroyd Primary Academy, Dewsbury, Healey Junior Infant and Nursery School, Batley, High Bank Junior Infant and Nursery School, Liversedge, Leeside Community Primary School, Heckmondwike and Chickenley Community Junior Infant and Nursery School, Dewsbury.

A government spokesman said the results would be taken in context, and schools that were just experiencing a ‘blip’ due to a bad cohort, or perhaps a poor teacher, had nothing to fear.

They added: “Schools with a long history of under-performance, and who are not stepping up to the mark, will be 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 the best chance of a first-class education.”