Primary schools in Birmingham are celebrating a third consecutive year of improved performance following publication of today’s annual classroom test results.
And the city also continues to close the gap with the rest of the country in Key Stage 2 tests in English, maths and science.
Year 6 pupils who sat the tests in May last year achieved improvements across all three key subjects.
Figures show 77 per cent of Birmingham pupils hit the required Level 4 in literacy, compared to 76 per cent the year before.
At maths, the city average now stands at 75 per cent, which represents an impressive two per cent rise on the 73 per cent achieved in 2007, and a further improvement on the 71 per cent in 2006.
And, to complete the clean sweep, there was also a rise in performance in science tests despite concerns in some national quarters that the questions have become too easy.
Birmingham pupils again achieved a rise of two per cent, from 84 per cent to 86 per cent. The city still lags behind the national average of 81 per cent in English, 78 per cent in maths and 88 per cent in science, but the gap is continuing to narrow.
But the improved display saw Birmingham rise up the table of all 150 local authorities in the country, from 131st in 2007 to 123rd now.
The city also saw 28 primary schools come within the top five per cent nationally for contextual value added – the measure that shows the progress pupils make from the age of seven when factors such as deprivation levels are taken into account.
Coun Les Lawrence, Birmingham’s Cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “It is heartening to see the continued success story of schools in this city.
“The fact that results have maintained their upward trajectory is testimony to the hard work of pupils and their parents and the dedicated teachers and school staff,” he added.
“These young people have now moved on to secondary schools and I wish them all the success for the future.”
His words were echoed by Tony Howell, the city’s senior education officer, who said: “We are lucky here in Birmingham to have some of the best teachers and most dedicated school staff in the country.”
The top performing Birmingham school is Holy Cross Catholic Primary in Sutton Coldfield which has emerged joint top in the country with 100 per cent success in all three subjects.
It knocked last year’s top city school, Chilcote Primary, in Hall Green, into second spot after it achieved 100 per cent in English and science, and 98 per cent in maths.
One of the top performing value added schools is Leigh Junior, Infant and Nursery School, in Washwood Heath, with pupils obtaining 83 per cent in English and maths and 88 per cent in science.
Download the tables in pdf format here:
>Birmingham
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>Worcs
>Sandwell
>Dudley
>Staffordshire
