Telford primary schools on the up while Shropshire falls - see the best and worst

The best primary schools in Shropshire have been revealed with the release of the county's education league tables, and while Telford & Wrekin's stock has risen, Shropshire schools have fallen compared to the national average.

Telford & Wrekin has risen from 93rd to 63rd in the list of councils for its learning progress scores.

Ladygrove Primary School had some of the best results in Telford over the past year, with the best progress score in the area for children's reading.

The tables rank the schools in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin on their pupil's improvement in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2, and on the overall rate of pupils meeting their targets.

Meanwhile the school with the best progress score in Shropshire Council's area was Selattyn Church of England Primary in Oswestry, with a 6.9 score for reading and 4.7 for maths.

Ladygrove had 80 per cent of children meet their "expected standard", and their reading progress score of 5.9 was the highest in Telford & Wrekin.

Ladygrove headteacher Jo Weichlbauer said: "As a school we were really proud of our results last year.

"That cohort of pupils was very special. They had a really lovely attitude to learning and they wanted to achieve.

"Their parents were very supportive too which helps the teachers do a really good job.

"We're striving to carry on and replicate that success in the future.

"I would like to thank the staff for all the hard work they put in over the last year and the years leading up to it."

St Lawrence Church of England Primary School of Telford achieved well above average progress scores for Key Stage 2 in reading and writing, and above average scores in mathematics.

Schools are awarded scores reflecting their pupils’ progress between key stage 1 and key stage 2 exams in the three key subjects, taken at the ages of seven and 11.

Ninety two per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard across the three subjects, and eight per cent were high achievers.

Despite the school's impressive performance, it had a worse than average pupil to teacher ratio (30 pupils to each teacher) for the area.

At the other end of the scale, Queenswood Primary School and Nursery was bottom of the progress score rankings for last year.

Pupils across Telford and Wrekin achieved key stage 2 results broadly in line with other places in England.

Average scores of 106 in reading, 106 in grammar, punctuation and spelling and 104 in mathematics meant the local authority ranked 63rd of England’s 152 authorities.

This was a rise from 93rd in 2016-17.

Meanwhile pupils in the rest of Shropshire achieved below average results.

Average scores of 105 in reading, 105 in grammar, punctuation and spelling and 104 in mathematics meant the local authority ranked 108th of England’s 152 authorities.

This was a drop from 83rd in 2016-17.

Selattyn CofE Primary School replaces Longnor CofE Primary School as the highest-ranking school in Shropshire Council's area – though last year’s winner remains one of the best in the area.

The school in Selattyn, Oswestry, is a voluntary controlled school which accepts children aged five to 11.

Pupils are expected to achieve scores of at least 100 in their key stage 2 exams. At Selattyn, the average grade awarded for reading was 111, for grammar, punctuation and spelling 109, and for maths 108.

The best and worst of primary schools

Telford and Wrekin

The top 10 schools in Telford & Wrekin, according to their progress scores:

1. St Lawrence Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (5.1 in reading, 4.7 in writing and 1.0 in mathematics)

2. Ladygrove Primary School (reading: 5.9, writing: -0.2, maths: 4.5)

3. St Luke’s Catholic Primary School (reading: 5.1, writing: 2.1, maths: 0.8)

4. St Peter’s Church of England Controlled Primary School (reading: 2.8, writing: 1.9, maths: 2.4)

4. Muxton Primary School (reading: 2.7, writing: 0.8, maths: 3.6)

6. Millbrook Primary School (reading: 2.6, writing: 1.1, maths: 3.2)

7. St George’s Church of England Primary School (reading: 1.5, writing: 2.8, maths: 2.5)

8. Crudgington Primary School (reading: 2.6, writing: 1.5, maths: 1.4)

9. Grange Park Primary School (reading: 1.0, writing: 0.9, maths: 2.9)

10. William Reynolds Primary School (reading: 2.3, writing: 1.8 and maths: 0.5)

The worst five schools in Telford and Wrekin, according to their average progress scores:

49. Queenswood Primary School and Nursery (-4.5 in reading, -6.5 in writing and -6.0 in mathematics)

48. St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (reading: -4.7, writing: -0.8, maths: -5.7)

47. Aqueduct Primary School (reading: -3.7, writing: -3.7, maths: -3.3)

46. John Fletcher of Madeley Primary School (reading: -2.4, writing: -2.4, maths: -3.5)

45. Wrekin View Primary School (reading: -2.5, writing: 0.1, maths: -3.3)

Pupils across Telford and Wrekin achieved Key Stage 2 results broadly in line with other places in England. The local authority ranked 63rd of England’s 152 authorities.

Shropshire

The top 10 schools in Shropshire, according to their progress scores, were:

1. Selattyn CofE Primary (6.9 in reading, 2.0 writing and 4.7 maths)

2. Longnor CofE Primary (reading: 0.3, writing: 3.8, maths: 5.3)

3. Farlow CofE Primary School (reading: 2.6, writing: 3.2, maths: 3.5)

4. Whittington CofE Primary (reading: 3.5, writing: 1.7, maths: 2.7)

5. Longden CofE Primary (reading: 3.4, writing: 1.0, maths: 3.3)

6. Longlands Primary School (reading: 2.1, writing: 2.3, maths: 3.0)

7. St Leonard’s CofE Primary (reading: 2.9, writing: 2.2, maths: 2.0)

8. St Andrew’s CofE Primary (reading: 3.4, writing: 1.0, maths: 2.6)

9. Oxon CofE Primary School (reading: 2.2, writing: 1.8, maths: 2.4)

10. St Mary’s Bluecoat Primary (reading: 1.9, writing: 4.1 and maths: 0.2)

The worst five schools in Shropshire, according to their average progress scores, were:

112. St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Shawbury, (-4.0 in reading, -9.5 in writing and -4.7 in mathematics)

111. The Martin Wilson School (reading: -4.1, writing: -3.9, maths: -4.2)

109. Brockton CofE Primary School (reading: -3.8, writing: -2.4, maths: -5.2)

109. Bomere Heath CofE Primary School (reading: -1.3, writing: -7.1, maths: -3.0)

108. Woore Primary and Nursery School (reading: -2.8, writing: -4.3, maths: -3.5)

105. St Giles CofE Primary School (reading: -3.2, writing: -3.1 and maths: -3.6)

Pupils across Shropshire achieved below average Key Stage 2 results for England. The local authority ranked 108th of England’s 152 authorities.