FEWER school children in East Lancashire have achieved the benchmark level four in this year’s SATS tests for English, maths and science.

New figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show there has been a slight drop in the area and nationally from May’s Key Stage Two tests.

In Lancashire County Council’s area 81 per cent of pupils gained level four in English, 81 per cent achieved level four in maths and 89 per cent in science, which was a few points less than last year.

But their scores were higher than the national average which is 80 per cent for English, 79 per cent in maths and 88 per cent in science.

Trawden Forest Primary School, Blacko Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors All Saints CofE Primary School and Clitheroe Pendle Primary School, were named in the top 200 in the country for level four.

And Clitheroe Pendle Primary School and Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School, Rossendale, were in the top 200 outstanding schools where the highest proportions of pupils achieved level five, one level above the Government’s required standard, in the country.

In Burnley Brunshaw Primary School, Christ the King RC Primary School and St Mary Magdalene’s RC Primary School had shown a marked improvement compared to last year.

But Accrington Woodnook Primary School, Accrington Springhill Community Primary School, Darwen St James CofE Primary School and Hyndburn Park Primary School found themselves in the bottom 200 in the country.

Pam Macro, headteacher of St Veronica’s RC Primary School, Helmshore whose school was ranked in the top 10 in Lancashire, said: “We are absolutely delighted about the results the children have received.

"We constantly achieve very high results. It is a great credit to the hard work of staff parents and most of all the children.”

Alison Callon, headteacher of Pendle Primary School, Clitheroe, who were named outstanding, said: “I am delighted that the children’s hard work and the support they have received from parents, governors and staff has been recognised in this way. Results and league tables aren’t everything we also take pride in our happy school where our children enjoy learning.”

Lancashire County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "The primary school performance tables have maintained Lancashire's position of scoring slightly above the national average and I would like to congratulate the pupils and staff of our primary schools, who have worked so well over the past year.

"Lancashire's scores have shown an improvement in mathematics, and science results were maintained at a high of 89 per cent.

"There was a slight drop in the result for English from 82 per cent to 81 per cent, which is also reflected in national results.

"Lancashire's results are either 1 or 2 per cent higher in all subjects when compared to national data.

"However, we are never complacent and I know that our schools will be looking to improve even further next year.”