Youngsters are top of the county class
Staff at a village primary school are celebrating after pupils achieved the best exam results in Nottinghamshire — and some of the best in England.
All pupils at John Blow Primary School, Collingham, who sat assessments in writing, reading and maths in the 2016/17 academic year achieved the expected Government standard.
More than a third (36%) did better than the expected standard.
John Blow’s results were the ninth-best in England among schools that saw 100% of their pupils meet Government expectations.
The majority of schools in the Newark area saw at least 61% of pupils — the national average for England — gain expected standards in the Key Stage Two assessments, which are known as SATS.
A total of 29 out of the 45 primary and junior schools within a ten-mile radius of the town achieved at least this figure.
At Archbishop Cranmer Primary Academy, Aslockton, and Orston Primary School, 91% of pupils achieved the expected standard and at Winthorpe Primary School the figure was 85%.
Barnby Road Academy was the best-performing school in Newark and Balderton with 69% of pupils achieving the standard.
Pupils at the Mount Church of England Primary School made the most progress in their reading with a progress score of 5.5.
The scores are calculated by comparing the progress of a school’s pupils against those of similar pupils in schools across England.
Pupils at the Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Newark, achieved the best results in the Newark area for writing with a progress score of 4.6.
Its principal, Mr Lee Hessey, said his school’s results showed they were flying the flag for Newark and working-class communities.
Pupils at John Blow Primary School made the most progress in maths with a score of 5.3.
Work on aspiration levels and achievement
William Gladstone Church of England Academy recorded the lowest results in Newark and Balderton, with just 18% of pupils reaching the expected standard.
The school’s executive headteacher, Mr Nadeem Shah, who took over in September, said staff were working hard to raise aspiration levels and achievement.
Results for reading and maths in Nottinghamshire improved compared to the previous academic year.
Pupils are now at or above the national average for reading, writing and maths, but are 1% below the national figures for grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s committee chairman for children and young people’s services, Mr Philip Owen, said: “It is very encouraging to see that results for reading, writing and maths combined — the Government’s key performance indicator at the end of primary school — are in line with the national picture.
“In the past year, pupils have also closed the gap in terms of the percentage achieving the expected standard in reading — up nearly 7% to 72% — and this is very pleasing.
“It is very encouraging given that expectations for 11-year-olds were raised only two years ago through the introduction of a more challenging curriculum.”
Headteacher proud of school's success
Headteacher Mrs Helen Richardson said John Blow Primary School had dedicated staff who worked hard to produce good results.
“The parents are really supportive, we had a very good Ofsted (report) and this is all recognition that we do a very good job,” she said, after it was revealed the Collingham school’s SATS results were the best in Nottinghamshire and the ninth best in the country.
“I am proud of all the staff. They have worked really hard.”
Mrs Richardson announced the school’s exam results at a Christmas concert for senior citizens.
“The parents were delighted and the staff were absolutely thrilled,” she said.
“It is a huge testament to the whole organisation and the hard work we have put in.
“We are always above the national average but this was a group who did very well indeed and their progress scores were also good.”
Mrs Richardson said it was nice for Newark to get some recognition following the negative publicity around its ranking in the Government’s State Of The Nation report.
The Government document placed Newark and Sherwood 323rd out 324 local authority areas based on education outcomes, employability and housing prospects.
Mrs Richardson said: “It is nice to have some positive news that, if you come to Nottinghamshire, we have some amazing schools here.”