PUPILS and staff at dozens of Colchester’s primary schools were celebrating after scoring above the national average.

League tables released by the Department of Education yesterday showed 45 schools had 53 per cent of students who reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths when they were tested in Year Six tests last summer - the national average.

Amongst the top performing schools were Heathlands Primary School in West Bergholt where 98 per cent of students were working at the expected level, Hamilton and Langham primary schools both managed to see 92 per cent reach the mark.

Headteacher Nick Hutchings took over at Hamilton Primary School in September and paid tribute to the staff and pupils.

He said: “It is excellent news for us. The pupils and staff have done a fantastic jobs and the fact they have achieved such a high percentage is a testament to all their hard work.”

Mr Hutchings although he was proud of the school’s position in the league tables, he did not think they were the only measurement schools should work towards.

According to Government guidance, 65 per cent of pupils were expected to reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths Among the lowest performing schools were Unity Primary Academy, where 14 per cent of students reached the required standard in the three core subjects, and Monkwick Junior School which had 30 percent of students at the expected level.

Head of school at Unity Primary Academy Charlotte Booth-Rylett said: “Although the combined score of 14 per cent was disappointing, the individual achievement for pupils showed added value for children from their starting points.

“In fact, English results showed 41 per cent of pupils achieved age related expectations in reading and a very pleasing 72 per cent in writing.

“The school met the government floor standard for progress.

“The external tests are one measure of pupils’ progress; Unity Primary Academy offers so much more to foster academic and personal success for our learners.

Across Essex 56 per cent achieved at least the expected standard in the combined reading, writing and maths measure.

Comparisons with previous years are not possible because this is the first year the new measures have been used.

Essex County Council’s education boss Ray Gooding (Con) said: “I am absolutely delighted with the latest Key Stage 2 statistics, which are a further demonstration of the fantastic improvements Essex schools have been making.”

The primary school league table in full

Heathlands Primary School, West Bergholt

98%

Hamilton Primary School

92%

Langham Primary School

92%

St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School

87%

St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

84%

St Andrew's, Marks Tey

82%

Great Bentley Primary School

78%

Dedham Primary School

77%

Kelvedon St Mary's Primary Academy

77%

Millfields Primary School

76%

Alresford Primary School

75%

Fordham All Saints Primary School

75%

Chappel Primary School

73%

Copford Primary School

72%

Elmstead Primary School

72%

Layer-de-la-Haye Primary School

72%

Kendall Primary School

71%

Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery

70%

St John's Green Primary School

70%

Birch Primary School

69%

Holy Trinity, Eight Ash Green and Aldham

67%

Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils

67%

Prettygate Junior School

67%

Roach Vale Primary School

67%

St George's, Great Bromley

65%

St John's Primary School, Colchester

65%

St Mary's Primary School, Ardleigh

65%

Stanway Fiveways Primary School

64%

Myland Community Primary School

63%

Friars Grove Primary School

62%

St George's New Town Junior School

59%

Stanway Primary School

59%

The Queen Boudica Primary School

58%

Highwoods Community Primary School

57%

Old Heath Community Primary School

57%

Broomgrove Junior School

56%

Colne Engaine Primary School

55%

Feering Primary School

55%

Hazelmere Junior School

55%

St Lawrence Primary School, Rowhedge

55%

St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester

55%

St Peter's Church Primary School, Coggeshall

55%

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

54%

Home Farm Primary School

53%

Iceni Academy

52%

Milldene Primary School

52%

Gosbecks Primary School

51%

Boxted St Peter's Church of England School

50%

Brinkley Grove Primary School

50%

Brightlingsea Junior School

49%

Montgomery Junior School, Colchester

48%

Baynards Primary School

47%

Parsons Heath Primary School

47%

St Luke's Primary School

47%

Mersea Island School

46%

North Primary School and Nursery

45%

Cherry Tree Primary School and Speech and Language Unit

44%

Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery

43%

Messing Primary School

42%

The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School

42%

Langenhoe Community Primary School and Pre-School

33%

Tiptree Heath Primary School

33%

Monkwick Junior School

30%

Fingringhoe Primary School

27%

Unity Primary Academy

14%

Gazette comment: There's more to primary school than the results

IT’S the time of year when the Department for Education pits each primary school against each other.

As in any league table, there are perceived winners and perceived losers. 

To that end, we must congratulate Healthlands Primary School, in West Bergholt, on a job very well done. 

However, what these tables do not show, and have never shown, are all the variables - a multitude of them, in fact.

Naturally, some schools will have a higher number of ‘English as an additional language’ pupils and that, in turn, presents a challenge. 

Other schools may have a smaller number of pupils - indeed the league table includes a school with 11 pupils as well as one with 84.

Aside from the tangibles, schools will, naturally, have stronger and weaker cohorts.

In addition, a child who is not supported at home, for example, who is sparked into life by a creative teacher and achieves better than they could have hoped for but does not hit the benchmark is an incredible success nonetheless.

In this table, that child is just another pupil who didn’t “achieve the national benchmark”.

Above all, these results are not a reflection on how hard teachers work and they are not a reflection on how hard children work.

There is more to primary school than just the results.

It is where children learn to interact, where they make friends, where they begin playing football or netball or where they realise they can sing or dance. 

League tables tell some of the story, but not all of it.