Primary school results in the borough have followed national trends upwards this year, though Sutton's 11-year-olds exceeded the country's averages in all three core subjects.

Sutton's local education authority (LEA) was the 30th best performer in England with aggregate scores for Maths, Science and English of 243.3, compared to last year's showing of 241.

Nearby Richmond was the top ranked LEA in the country, scoring 259.5 overall. The figure combines the percentages of 11-year-olds who have reached the required standard - Level 4 - in English, Maths and Science at Key Stage 2, the exams that conclude a child's primary school career.

This year's combined national average of 233 was two points up on last year's showing, a similar increase to Sutton's.

But in Science, 91.9 per cent of Sutton pupils reached expected levels compared to a national average of 87 per cent, in English the figure was 80 per cent - five points above average - and in Maths 72.2 per cent compared to 71 per cent.

A LEA spokesman said: "We congratulate schools, headteachers, teachers, support staff and, of course, the pupils in producing such successful results.

"Governors in Sutton schools set some challenging targets for pupils and we are delighted that all the hard work that has been invested by schools has produced such a fine set of results."

Leading the way in the borough was Westbourne Primary School in Collingwood Road, Sutton, which achieved a combined score of 289 points, including 100 per cent in Science.

Headteacher Matthew Hiley said: "We've been fairly strong in Science for a little while and it's something we hope to continue. The children worked very hard and, at the moment, we've got a fantastic team of teachers."

But on the subject of league tables, he added: "I think parents are quite wise enough to know that there can be distortions and discrepancies. And everyone in the profession takes them with a pinch of salt as an absolute indicator of a school's quality."

Close behind Westbourne with 288 points, and boasting this year's biggest improvement in the borough, was The Avenue Primary, Belmont.

And Bandon Hill Primary, Sandy Lane South, Wallington, achieved the best score long-term increase, its score of 274 this year beating its 1998 achievement by 104 points.

December 10, 2001 16:00