Best ever results for MK 11-year-olds

2.18.44pm GMT Wed 20th Dec 2006

Pupils across MK have smashed all local records with their performance at Key stage 2 tests.

Milton Keynes 11-year-olds have achieved their best ever performance with an overall improvement of 7% across English, mathematics and science compared to a national rise of only 2%, according to figures released today.

Overall, the top performers across Milton Keynes were St Thomas Aquinas, Olney Middle, Two Mile Ash, Portfields, Lavendon and Willen Primary Schools. Several other schools achieved their best ever performance or big improvements on previous years. These included Brooksward, Bushfield, Chestnuts, Cold Harbour, Drayton Park, Emerson Valley, Falconhurst, Giles Brook, Langland, Meadfurlong, Middleton, Monkston, New Bradwell, New Chapter, Queen Eleanor, St Monica's and Wavendon Gate.

The performance tables also show a value added measure for each school. This gives an indication of the progress made by pupils from age 7 to age 11. At, Abbeys, Caroline Haslett, Cedars, Emerson Valley, Lavendon, Olney, Portfields, Queen Eleanor, Southwood, St Mary Magdalene, St Thomas Aquinas, Willen and Romans Field Schools, in particular, pupils made much greater average progress than pupils across England.

Special mention must go to three schools. St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Bletchley has maintained its position as the highest performing primary school in Milton Keynes. Headteacher Monica Basham put this down to "her strong staff team, the quality of the teaching at the school, the positive support from parents as well as the individual attention given to pupils. We have very high expectations of our pupils and offer them a rich curriculum and they respond very well."

At Queen Eleanor School in Galley Hill, Headteacher Brian Kite was thrilled with the high value-added measure and best ever performance. "We have all worked hard to achieve these outcomes for our children and are well placed to build further on these results."

Alison Waspe, the Headteacher of Olney Middle School, praised her staff for "the school's best ever performance and the very impressive improvement of 40% across English, mathematics and science. These very high standards are a great credit to all."

The attendance figures across primary schools in Milton Keynes also show a very positive picture with another year of much better attendance rates in Milton Keynes than across all primary schools in England.

Cllr Sandra Clark, Cabinet Member for Children, gave her congratulations to schools, their staff and pupils.

She said: "We know our schools are working hard to improve standards and keep attendance at high levels. The big improvements in standards shown this year are testament to the commitment of staff in schools coupled with the excellent support from the local authority. The changes we have made to ages of transfer between schools over the last two years are already leading to improvements in standards and will lead to further improvements in results for 11 year olds over the next few years."