DISADVANTAGED children in Warrington are among the highest achievers in the north west according to year six SATs results, despite their schools receiving less than half the amount of government funding other schools are given.

Forty-five per cent of 10 and 11-year-old pupils who are classed as ‘disadvantaged’ aced the key stage two exams last year – the highest proportion in the region.

The figures include children on free school meals, adopted youngsters and those who are looked after.

Warrington topped the national figures for disadvantaged pupils passing their exams, which stands at 39 per cent.

The Department for Education report also revealed that reading was the weakest subject for all year six children, with 71 per cent passing the tests in comparison to a 76 per cent pass rate in maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling.

But the scores for all subjects were well above the national average.

However, the town remains one of the lowest funded areas of the country for education with schools receiving grants of £4,236 per pupil in 2016 – less than half the amount given to schools in top-funded areas such as London.

And the new school funding formula is unlikely to level the playing field as Warrington is set for only a 0.5 per cent increase in cash.

Conservative MP David Mowat has vowed to confront Education Secretary Justine Greening about fairer funding.

He said: “Despite their funding challenge, Warrington’s schools continue to perform at the highest standard. 

“Two of our primaries have been ranked in the top 100 schools in the country and these latest figures show that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are doing better as well.

“These results are a tribute to the teachers, headteachers and teaching assistants who work so hard every week to make sure that children in Warrington get the best possible start in life.”

Cllr Jean Carter, executive board member for children’s services, said: “Staff at our schools work very hard to make sure all of our children, whatever their background, fulfil their potential.

"We will continue to work with our schools so that all of our pupils have the very best outcomes despite facing severe funding challenges.

“As a council we are doing everything we can to ensure there are fewer children who are disadvantaged in the first place.

"This is all part of the council’s commitment to investing in the most vulnerable and tackling inequalities across our town”