PRIMARY school pupils in Swindon are achieving better grades in reading, writing and maths compared to the national average.

In new figures released by the Department for Education yesterday (Dec 14), 62 per cent of the town’s KS2 pupils were reaching the expected standard. The national average is 61 per cent.

Swindon’s girls fared far better than boys with 67 per cent reaching the expected standard as opposed to 58 per cent of boys.

One of the schools that topped the leader board was Westrop Primary School in Highworth, where 83 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in the three core KS2 areas.

The school also had the highest progress score, which compares how much progress pupils made in reading, writing and maths between the end of KS1 and the end of KS2 with other schools.

Headteacher Janet Urban said: “We are absolutely over the moon and completely thrilled by the result.

“It is a tribute to everyone’s hard work because the children have pulled out all the stops to work hard and achieve what they can. Our philosophy is that you can do it if you try and this shows that it works.”

Despite the town’s results dipping last year due to changes in assessment criteria, Janet believes all primary schools have proven that they are back on track again this year. She added: “We hoped that we were going to do well but you can never tell because you don’t know the results until you get the papers. What we have done though is try to give the pupils all the skills they will need.

“We had planned for all the changes to KS2 before they came into play and as a school we are always prepared for change to happen so that when it does, it isn’t a shock to the system. We reviewed everything we did and looked at ways to tighten up areas to make them better and the whole school has worked really hard.

“It has been a gradual improvement all the way across the school and it is not just a last-minute boost. It is very much about the children doing their best in all areas across the curriculum.”

Swindon out-performed Wiltshire’s schools where on average only 59 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard.

Dan Clarke, headteacher of Brook Field School, another high-flier, said the team was thrilled by the result.

“As ever, we are very proud of the children and the results they have achieved at Brook Field School,” he said.

“This is always the culmination of a relentless commitment to ensuring the best possible outcomes for every single child and is achieved through hard work from wonderful members of staff, engaging and inspiring children through a rich and diverse curriculum and of course the collaborative and supportive approach of our children.

“Whilst we will not always top measures of data in this manner, our drive, the same as every other primary school in Swindon, will not change.”

Coun Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, said: “These results are fantastic and the fact that they are some of the most improved in the country and put us above the national average is the icing on the cake.

“This is a big boost for our hard working primary teachers and staff and I would like to thank them all for continuing to give Swindon’s young people the best possible start in their journey through education. They do an incredible job and I’m thrilled that this has been reflected in the progress made.”