Making the grade

The tables revealed numerous success stories with some schools winning top marks and others improving dramatically.

The Hook-with-Warsash Church of England Primary topped Hampshire's table and was among the best in the country after all its 61 ten and 11-year-olds achieved the target level four in English, maths and science - one of just 178 schools in the country to do it.

Head teacher Christopher Hines put the success down to "excellent teaching" and a "strong Christian ethos", but said the school was about more than just English, maths and science.

He said: "We are all delighted. We attach a great deal of importance to developing the whole child with, for example, sport, music, drama and art playing as vital a role in school life as literacy and numeracy."

There were other successes as well. Southampton's Mansbridge Primary School was ranked among the nation's most improving schools along with Stockbridge's Wallop Primary School, which was another to get 100 per cent of pupils to level four in English, maths and science.

Both schools have managed to pull off a consistent year-on-year improvement in their results since 1999.

No local schools featured in the league table's bottom 200.

Nationally, however, 2002 will also be remembered as the year the government missed its English and maths primary test results target - a fact which commentators say may have helped former education Secretary Estelle Morris decide to resign.

In maths, 75 per cent of 11-year-olds were supposed to reach the required standard but despite a two per cent improvement this year, the target was missed by two per cent.

In English, the proportion stayed static at 75 per cent - against the target of 80 per cent - for the second year running and reading scores fell by three points.

In Southampton, Portswood Primary posted fantastic results of more than 90 per cent in each subject and was a mere whisker away from scoring 100 per cent in science. Other city top achievers include Shirley, Highfield, Ludlow, Bitterne and Townhill junior schools.

Weston Park Junior School being ranked among the nation's school's with the worst record on truancy was a rare black mark on the city's copybook.

Another striking feature of the Southampton tables was how many schools in the city had taken significant leaps forward with their results. Schools such as Beechwood, Mount Pleasant, Shirley Warren, Thornhill and St Denys had all dramatically improved on last year's figures.

City education chief Richard Harris said: "The tables indicate very pleasing improvements, especially as many authorities show a decline while Southampton continues to improve.

"However, we refuse to be complacent and will continue to work in partnership with schools to raise the achievements of our primary school children."

While the city came 120th out of 131 authorities in the country, the figures also put it in the top 20 of the most improving.

Hampshire was ranked 34th while the Isle of Wight's 16 primary schools came in at 71.

On the Isle of Wight, Trinity Middle School in Newport notched up a total of 98 per cent of pupils reaching level four in science, which helped put it on top.

There will be big smiles at many Hampshire schools this morning, with many emerging with fine results.

Hursley's John Keble Primary School was another with full marks, scoring 100 per cent in each of the core subject areas. Eastleigh's Knightwood School came close, falling short in just maths, and Alresford's Cheriton Primary School lost ground only in English.

In Fareham, two Catholic schools topped the town table. St Jude's totals of 93 per cent in maths and English rounded off by 100 per cent in science were only shaded by St Anthony's 100 per cent in maths and science and 96 per cent in English.

New Forest schools also made the grade, led by the small Catholic school Our Lady and St Joseph Primary in Lymington, which got full marks across the board.

Milford on Sea Primary managed excellent figures of 89 per cent in English, 96 per cent in maths and 98 per cent in science with a much larger pupil intake.

County education boss Councillor Don Allen said: "Hampshire's results show continued high standards, with results above the national average. We are not complacent, however, and we regard this year's results as a good foundation for further improvement in future years."

Secondary school tables normally published before Christmas are not now expected until next year because of the summer's A-level exam marking controversy.

See pages 4, 5, 6 & 7 of today's Daily Echo for the full list of Hampshire and Southampton primary school league tables.