PUPILS and staff at Ashurst Primary School have got a lot to shout about after being told their school’s phonics screening results are among the best in England.

This year, the Blackbrook school achieved 97 per cent pass rate for the assessment taken by all Year One pupils in England to test their ability to read words, which places Ashurst in the top six per cent in the country.

This year’s national figures show that 89 per cent of pupils who achieve the expected standard in the phonics check go on to achieve at least the expected standard in key stage 1 reading teacher assessment.

They received a letter from the Minister of State Schools and Standards, Nick Gibb MP, who informed them of their success and congratulated them.

Headteacher, Lisa Houghton, and deputy headteacher, Rebecca King said: “We were delighted to receive this letter from Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP congratulating us on our success in the Phonics Screening Check 2018.

"At Ashurst, We are committed to ensuring highly effective teaching of phonics and early reading, leading to a life-long love of reading throughout our school.”

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for developing young people, Cllr Joe Pearson, added: “Phonics is the most effective method for teaching young children how to read, so for one of our schools to be up there with the best in the country is something we must celebrate as it will influence our next generation to develop a love for reading.

“Well done to all involved in achieving such an outstanding result.”