Government figures show league tables for Fenland schools based on summer tests 2024

League tables published by the Government have highlighted the performances of Fenland primary schools in terms of their test results.

The tables produced by the Department for Education at the end of last month are based on the performances of children at the end of Key Stage 2 – Year 6 so children aged 10 and 11.

Each school has been ranked by the percentage of pupils meeting the expected targets in reading, writing, and maths and is based on the results of the Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) taken last summer.

There are 37 schools in Fenland however data is not available for some of these including Burrowmoor Academy in March – which only became an academy in November 2023.

Wisbech Grammar School is not included either because it is an independent school and therefore is not subject to the same rules as local authority schools.

Wisbech St Mary Academy came out top of the league with 81% of its 27 Key Stage 2 children attaining the Government’s expected standard.

Of those sitting the tests, 4% attained a higher standard. The average reading score was 110 – which is the level for a higher-than-expected standard.

The expected standard is a score of 100 or more. The school’s average maths score was 107 – again the expected level is 100.

Nearly all the schools with listed data in Fenland hit the expected levels in reading and maths, with many achieving higher than the 100 mark.

These included Gorefield Academy, Lionel Walden in Doddington, Coates Primary School, Manea Primary School, and Beaupre in Outwell.

Nationally 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths – up 1% on the previous year.

The Department for Education acknowledged that the children who sat the tests last summer were among those who suffered disruption to their education during the pandemic particularly at the end of Year 2 and in Year 3.

Only eight schools in Fenland met the national average or above these included Guyhirn, Elm, and Ramnoth Junior Schools.

Many schools were way below the average in overall achievement these included Friday Bridge Academy which saw only 20% of pupils meet the Government’s expectations. However, there were only 10 children in Year 6 to take the exams.

Townley School at Christchurch saw 43% of its Year 6 pupils hit the required standard – seven children took the tests and 14% of them achieved higher than the expected standard.

Overall the school scored 103 for reading and 105 for maths.

Headteacher Maria-Anne Higgins explained there are many reasons for schools not to reach the required standard.

She pointed out that Townley has the highest percentage of children with an education health care plan (special needs) in Cambridgeshire outside of specialist schools.

Mrs Higgins said Townley is proud of its achievements and said the school was all about ensuring every child achieves what they are capable of achieving.

She also pointed out that small schools can suffer when it comes to the league tables, as it only takes one or two pupils with special needs to have an impact on the scores.

However, she said: “We believe in embracing all children and ensuring they get the best they possibly can out of being at school. There is more to school than results, it is ensuring every child makes the best possible progress and that they enjoy learning and being in school.”