PRIMARY school children in St Helens are slightly outperforming their peers nationally, according to the primary school league tables published by the Department for Education.

The annual tables rank every school based of the Key Stage Two SATs taken by Year Six pupils to test their reading, writing and mathematical skills.

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The number of children mastering 'the 3Rs' in the borough's schools is above the England national average.

Results of this year’s national curriculum tests, taken in May, show that 66 per cent of Year Six pupils left primary school having achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Nationally 65 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard.

However, the number of children achieving at the higher standard was slightly below the national average of 11 per cent.

St Helens' figure stood at 10 per cent.

Overall the progress children made during their time at school in all subjects is slightly above average at 0.2.

This score shows how much progress pupils as each school made in reading, writing and maths between the end of Key Stage One and the end of Key Stage Two, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of Key Stage One.

St Helens matched the national average for average scores in reading and maths.

Top of the table in St Helens this year was St Julie's Catholic Primary School in Eccleston, which had 91 per cent of children leave reaching at least the expected standard in the 3Rs.

Children at the school also made well above average progress in maths and reading.

Also in the top five were St Aidan's Church of England School in Billinge and St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in Windle, which both saw 90 per cent of pupils achieve at least the expected rate.

Meanwhile, Bleak Hill Primary School in Windle saw 89 per cent of pupils achieve the expected rate and Rivington Primary School in Dentons Green had 87 per cent of pupils make the achievement.

In a statement the council said the figures places St Helens 60th out of 152 local authorities in the country for attainment – up 36 places from 96th position last year.

The St Helens results are a three per cent improvement on last year, with attainment figures also increasing – most notably in maths which saw 79 per cent of pupils reach the expected standard.

The council also praised Merton Bank Primary for "improving significantly", with 68 per cent of students achieving  the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. 

Commenting on the figures, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Young People, Councillor Sue Murphy, said: "The results for 2019 are extremely promising.

"The overwhelming majority of our primary schools work very closely with us.

“The formation of the Learning Partnership Board has proved crucial in bringing schools together to work on common areas for development.

“The school effectiveness team and local leaders have worked well together to provide effective school to school support and all share the drive to improve outcomes further for children across the borough.”

Find out how your child's school did here.