A BURY headteacher has earned the praise of colleagues after her primary school topped a national league table.

Lowercroft Primary was ranked first in a comparison of state schools published this week by the Sunday Times.

The Ashington Drive school earned the accolade with a perfect aggregate score for final year results over the past three years.

In all three core subjects - English, maths and science - 100 per cent of its 11-year-olds have met national standards for the fourth year running.

This was enough to give the school top ranking in the newspapers "Parent Power" study, based on Standard Attainment Task tests (SATs) results. lt includes figures for the past year, which will be released officially as league tables next month.

The 249 pupil school, opened in 1974, has higher than average class sizes and encourages an approach of "creative teaching". It topped last years borough-wide "value added" results, which measure improvements in pupil performances throughout their time at the school.

Chairman of school governors, Kenneth Airey, said much of the credit for continued success should go to headteacher Mrs Jean Boardman, who took over at the school six years ago.

"It is a good school because the headteacher cares for every child. All of the staff care a great deal about the pupils," he said. "Although we already had a good school, Mrs Boardman really does spend all of her time searching for improvements.

"She gets the full support of our governors because we have so much faith in her."

Harold Williams, Bury Councils director of education, said: "Mrs Boardman has given the school very clear and defined leadership and has done this on very limited funding."

The head welcomed the figures, but said that a combined effort from all involved with the school was responsible for the success. she added. "It just goes to show what Bury can achieve. Its down to teamwork by the staff, parents, pupils and governors, so that we have everyone working for the same goals."

Part of the schools success is also attributed to its before and after-school club with activities such as fencing, football, rugby, netball and music provided between 7.45am and 6pm.

The school was 36th in the country overall - taking in the State and independent sector - and finished 15th in the same newspaper survey 12 months ago.

l-The survey brought further good news for the town with a placing of 15th in the independent sector for Bury Grammar Girls Junior School. The top 35 schools were independents.

Head Bobby Georghiou said: "I believe that a strong extra-curricular programme has a lot to with fostering a culture of achievement in the school."