STAFF and pupils at a Kidlington primary school are celebrating after being ranked highly in a national league table.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Oxford Road came third in the top ten state primary schools in the South East in The Sunday Times Parent Power guide to the best schools in Britain.

A three-year analysis of Key Stage 2 Sat results, from 2004-2006, has been used to rank the primary schools, and St Thomas More won a national ranking of 15th.

Headteacher Claire Robinson said: "The reason we are so highly placed is because we had outstanding results in all categories of an Ofsted inspection a year ago.

"That included the curriculum, teaching and learning, care and welfare, leadership and management and a section on religious education.

"This high ranking does not just reflect academic achievement - it's recognition of all the hard work that takes place in the school.

"The children will always be put first in this school and will be at the centre of everything we do.

"We have high expectations of ourselves and we set challenging but realistic targets.

"We develop the children's self-esteem and create an environment in which they feel good about themselves and that gives them the confidence to learn."

Pupil Daniel Murray, nine, from Kidlington, said: "The school is fun when we are allowed to be creative."

Ellie-Mae Coyle, eight, added: "It is fun keeping fit and healthy and working towards becoming a Fairtrade and eco-school."

Mrs Robinson, who has been headteacher for six years, said the school had been through "turbulent times" in the past but was now in a very strong position.

"We did have falling pupil rolls but we now have 234 pupils on the roll, the highest number we have ever had," she said.

"We have developed our nursery provision over the past six years so we now cater for pupils aged three to 11.

"If you nuture a thirst for learning at such an early age that reaps dividends throughout the school."

Now in its 17th year, Parent Power is acknowledged as one of the most authoritative surveys of the country's best schools.

Alastair McCall, assistant editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power report, said: "St Thomas More had a near-perfect set of Sats scores over three years, which means that virtually every child reached Level 4, the level expected by the Govern- ment."

Meanwhile, Oxford High School for Girls, in Belbroughton Road, was ranked 7th in the top 10 independent secondary schools in the South East, with a national ranking of 14th.

Headteacher Felicity Lusk welcomed the ranking.

She added: "The teaching here is extremely dynamic and the girls have a curiosity for learning but they also do lots of things outside the academic curriculum."

Oxford High School's junior department came fourth in the top ten independent preparatory schools in the South East, with a national ranking of 11th.