Top marks for Halton primary school (From Warrington Guardian)

Top marks for Halton primary school

A LETTER of congratulations from the schools standards minister David Miliband has winged its way to Ditton CofE Primary.

The school was rated the best primary in Halton, and 68th best in the country, at improving pupil's performance between Years 3 and 6 in the latest set of exam results league tables.

Head teacher Carol Lawrenson isn't a fan of league tables but she said she was thrilled the staff's hard work had been recognised.

She said: "We want our children to have the very best education we can provide. We are not a school that is fixated on exams although we recognise how important they are."

She said the staff keep up to date with the right teaching methods and added: "I just know I work with some really fantastic staff."

Halton's top exam performer overall was Pewithall Primary in Higher Runcorn.

Headteacher Christine Minshall said: "We are pleased and I think we have got very good teachers but at the end of the day we hope to send out well balanced pupils who have done to the best of their ability.

"There's a lot more to education than just exam results. In exams, you can do well one year and the next you can be quite a way down the table. It just depends on the pupils in that year.

"We are not in it for better league table places but well rounded pupils working to the best of their ability."

Half a mile away in Halton Lodge, Woodside Primary was the lowest rated exam performer.

A school spokesperson said: "The league tables report was on selected areas of a school's work.

"They do not reflect achievements across the whole curriculum or indicate the complex needs of pupils.

"Over the past year we have received two awards and are confident we will continue to make progress."