Headteacher: League tables do not reflect child’s ability (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Headteacher: League tables do not reflect child’s ability

9:06am Friday 9th December 2005 in News

A Redhill headteacher has blasted primary school league tables, despite achieving a score that places it in the top 25 per cent of all schools in the country.

Marian Cassidy, headteacher of St John's Primary School in Pendleton Road, said league tables are not a suitable way of assessing a child's ability and do not take into account all aspects of learning.

The figures, published last Friday by the Department for Education and Skills, show the results achieved by pupils in the key stage 2 national curriculum tests taken in May.

The borough's primary schools all scored above the national average in the tables with a further four out of the 13 schools across Reigate and Redhill also ranking in the top 25 per cent of schools nationwide.

These schools are Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Sandcross Junior School, Merstham Community Primary School and St Joseph's Primary School which all achieved scores above 260.

Nutfield Church Primary School topped the borough league with an average score of 288 just 12 short of a perfect 300 in the three tests English, maths and science.

However, Miss Cassidy was pleased with the way her school performed and said: "It is all down to the teachers and the teaching assistants who work so hard in partnership with the parents to support the children."

This year's results show that Surrey continues to be a top performing authority at key stage 2.

Liz Walsh, headteacher at St Joseph's School in Linkfield Lane, Redhill, has only been at the school since January. She said: "We just want to say well done to all the children who took the Sats, it was a really good team effort. It is also a great start for me at the school."

Andrew Crisp, Surrey County Council's executive member for schools, said: "Once again Surrey's primary schools have received above average results something we should all be proud of."

To see how your child's school performed see our table.

School: Aggregarte shcool (out of 300) / Value added ranking / English / Maths / Science

Brambletye Junior School 235 100.3 78 74 83
Furzefield Primary School 242 99.4 79 80 85
Merstham Community Primary School 266 101.3 76 80 85
Nutfield Church CofE Primary School 288 100.3 96 92 100
Reigate Priory Community Junior School 275 100.8 89 87 99
Royal Alexandra and Albert School 269 101.1 92 79 98
Salfords Primary School 235 100.3 77 65 92
Sandcross Junior School 265 101 86 84 95
St Bede's CofE Aided Junior School 254 100.4 86 76 92
St John's Primary School 264 101.7 89 82 93
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 285 101.2 98 90 97
St Matthews CofE Primary School 234 100.1 71 73 89
Wray Common Primary School 242 99.7 86 70 86