Success has become just a matter of course for tiny Shenington School, writes Madeleine Pennell. Its 11-year-olds have again scored 100 per cent in exams - for the fourth year running.

The 12 pupils in the age group at the C of E primary school in north Oxfordshire put it among the four schools in the county to get 100 per cent in maths, English and science.

Compiled by the Government, the results show the percentage of pupils in each school who achieved level four or above in the tests which are taken by 11 year-olds.

Headteacher Coral Jessop-Burnell said she was delighted by the results, adding that the school achieved top results by having high expectations of pupils. *Primary school pupils in Oxfordshire have out-smarted most youngsters across Britain, according to education league tables published today.

Results for national curriculum tests taken by 11-year-olds show that the county's children performed above the national average in English, maths and science.

English results were described as "excellent", showing an eight per cent rise on last year from 66 per cent to 74 per cent of pupils achieving Level Four or above in the tests.

This was better than the national average, which has risen by only six per cent in English to 69.7 per cent.

In maths, 70 per cent of Oxfordshire pupils reached at least Level Four - a rise of nine per cent compared to last year and two per cent above the national figure. Science results are booming with 83 per cent of pupils reaching the benchmark. This is a ten per cent rise on last year and is five per cent above the national average. This means the county's schools are well placed to meet the demanding targets, set by the Government, which the local education authority must reach by 2002.

Sue Rossiter, principal education officer, said: "The results have gone up in all three core subjects, particularly in English where they have gone up more than the national average.

"We are continuing to be above the national average and we are on course to meet all our ambitious targets agreed with the Government." Kidmore End C of E Primary School, near Reading, came top in the county in a league table based on the number of pupils taking the tests in each school.

But the school was one of four in Oxfordshire whose pupils achieved 100 per cent in the three core subjects - these include Shenington C of E Primary School which is the only school in England to achieve perfect marks four years running.

The other top schools are Freeland C of E Primary School, near Witney, which was ranked third in the county.

Fourth in the county is Appleton C of E Primary School, near Abingdon. Michael Dennison, deputy principal adviser for Oxfordshire County Council said: "These results are an improvement but most important of all is that we are improving faster than similar counties to us such as Cambridge, Dorset and Hampshire.

"Another important issue is that boys are improving faster in Oxfordshire than the national average which means things like the literacy initiative are working." *Headteacher Bobby Kay today spoke of her delight after her primary school was named among the the most improved in the country.

Freeland C of E Primary School, near Witney, was Oxfordshire's only representative in a new top 100 schools in England, in new league tables published today.

Mrs Kay, who took over the school's leadership in September, said she could not take credit for the pupils' achievements but that she was proud of them.

She added: "I am extremely thrilled with the results and proud of the effort that has been put in by all the members of staff. It is wonderful. We always aim high and it shows the special nature of a village school." Freeland came 19th on the table of schools, whose 11-year-old pupils have improved the most in national curriculum scores in the past three years. The school is the only one in the county to appear on the list.

The league table, published by the Department For Education and Employment, shows the number of pupils who reached Level Four or above in the English, maths and science tests.

Level Four is the threshold the Government expects pupils to achieve in the tests, which cover Key Stage Two of the national curriculum.

Three years ago, in 1996, 123 pupils gained Level Four or above and this year all 300 pupils in the school reached the target. Overall, the school's success means it is now the third highest achieving school in the county. Last year, it came tenth in the county.

Education Secretary David Blunkett wrote to the school congratulating pupils and staff on their success.

Staff are also invited to a celebration at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London but have opted to stay in school as the event is on a teaching day.

Story date: Wednesday 08 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.