TEACHERS and children are celebrating impressive exam results which put their primary school in the top 2 per cent in the country.

Highfields Primary School in Colchester Road, Lawford, has been praised for the huge progression of children between Key Stage One, aged seven, and Key Stage Two, when they are 11.

Nick Gibb, Minister of State for School Standards has written to the school to thank staff and students for their hard work.

He wrote: “I would like to congratulate you, your staff and your pupils on the very high level of progress that pupils have made in their reading, writing and mathematics.

“Your school’s Key Stage Two results published on December 14, show progress scores of 5.7, 3.7 and 4.5 respectively.

“This means your school is amongst the top two per cent of schools in England in terms of the progress your pupils make between Key Stage One and the end of Key Stage Two.”

Headteacher Hilary Cook said the results, which come from exams sat by the children last May, were the highest the school has ever had.

“We are incredibly proud to be in the top two per cent of all primary schools in England, it’s an amazing achievement,” she added.

“We are proud of the children and I’m proud of the staff - we are thrilled,” she added.

Mrs Cook said the school, which was graded as outstanding at its last Ofsted inspection, strives for the best academically as well as in other areas such as music, sport and life skills.