EDUCATION standards are rising across Oldham’s primary schools – and proud staff, pupils and parents at two have attained status amongst the country’s elite.

New nationwide league tables rank St Joseph’s RC, Shaw, as the best of England’s 1,500 primary schools based on its ‘contextual value added core, which measures pupils progress since starting primary school and takes social background into account.

And Greenhill Primary School, Glodwick – where the majority of pupils are from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds and do not speak English – is ranked 11th by the same yardstick.

Overall the borough has been promoted ten places in the national league table to now rank 88th out of 150 local education authorities – and there are other notable success stories.

Those include Mather Street Primary (pictured) in Failsworth, which is now ranked as one of the top 200 most improved schools for their results.

And Friezland School, Greenfield, has again been named one of the best schools nationally with 100 per cent of pupils obtaining the required standard (known as level four) in all core subjects.

Overall local exam results for 11-year-olds in national tests have shown gradual improvement in all areas from 2006. A figure of 80 per cent (up two) reached the required standard in English – level with the national average.

In maths 78 per cent (up two) made the grade (one per cent above the national average) while in science 86 per cent (up one) got their grades (two per cent below the national average).

And St Chad’s, in Saddle-worth, also went further – being named as one of the top 200 schools for the number of pupils reaching level five (the standard expected of 14-year-olds).

Figures on truancy and authorised absences – where pupils obtain permission to miss school – are also better than national averages.

Cllr Hugh McDonald, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said he was "very pleased" with the scorecard.

"I think the effort that has been put in by the teachers, pupils and everybody connected with the schools has produced a great result," he said.

"The extra resources that government has put in is also now paying off. The trend is upwards and we have to keep improving steadily like this, year on year, rather than big jump upwards followed by a similar one back."

AFTER school inspections, these primary league tables are the best way of assessing how well your child’s school has performed.

The tables rank schools according to the results of tests taken by every 11-year-old in the key subjects of English, maths and science.

The Key Stage Two tests are taken in May by every child who attends a state primary before they move on to secondary school.

The government expects that every pupil should achieve a benchmark understanding – known as "level four" – in these areas.

This means that in English, children should be able to use punctuation and write in paragraphs.

For maths, they should be capable of multiplying double-digit numbers and use percentages.

And in science, they must demonstrate they can select equipment for experiments and make deductions from the results.

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