PRIMARY schools across the region were celebrating success last week after proving their strengths in English, maths and science in this year's Department of Education and Skills Key Stage 2 league tables.

Surrey schools have maintained their high rating in the Key Stage 2 tests, beating the national average aggregate of 233 by 17.6 per cent.

Aggregates are reached by awarding 100 points each for English, maths and science and adding them together.

Schoolchildren in Spelthorne and Runnymede had most to shout about after producing consistently good results in Key Stage 2 tests and beating the national average for English by over five per cent.

However, some schools in the area were falling short of the national averages of 71 per cent for maths and 87 per cent in science.

Despite improving on last year's aggregate of 176 by 36 per cent, Kenyngton Manor Primary School in Sunbury-on-Thames was still the lowest of the area's schools, ranking 178th out of 196 schools in Surrey, and will need to improve on its 62 per cent pass rate for maths and 81 per cent for science.

Buckland Junior School in Laleham, with a score of 62 per cent for maths, Staines' Kingscroft Junior School, with a maths score of 61 per cent, Clarendon Primary School in Ashford, with 70 per cent for science, Town Farm Primary School in Stanwell and Spelthorne Junior School in Ashford, both with scores of 70 per cent for maths, will also have to catch up.

Eleven-year-olds at St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School in Englefield Green, following last year's perfect aggregate score of 300 in the tests, enjoyed continuing success with an aggregate of 296, giving the school the fourth highest score in the county.

Saint Michael Roman Catholic Primary School in Ashford, with an aggregate of 285, Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Addlestone with a score of 282 and St Nicholas CofE Primary School in Shepperton with 277 all received top 50 rankings in the county-wide tables.

Congratulating the region's youngsters, Surrey County Council executive member for children and young people, Kay Hammond, said: "This is a tremendous achievement.

"I congratulate teachers on managing to achieve the results they have, despite an increase in bureaucracy and problems with recruitment."

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