Big improvement in Devon primary schools’ SATs results

Devon’s primary schools have achieved a significant improvement in this year’s Key Stage 2 SATs tests for 11-year-olds.

The county’s combined figure for English and maths was up six per cent on last year and Devon schools continue to out-perform results nationally and regionally.

The percentage of pupils achieving the benchmark Level 4 or above in  English and maths in Devon was 82 per cent in 2012 – up six points on last year’s county results.

And the Devon figure was three points ahead of the national figure for the two subjects combined at 79 per cent and ahead of its geographic neighbours in Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Andrea Davis, today congratulated the county’s pupils, teachers and their families on the dramatic improvement.

“One of my sons took his SATs this year and I know how hard he had to work,” she said.

“A great deal of effort goes into sustaining and improving exam performances.

“We are pleased that Devon schools have maintained their lead on schools nationally and regionally and recorded such an excellent improvement.

“That is once again a highly creditable performance for Devon schools despite the fact that they are the sixth worst funded in the country.”

Devon currently stands sixth from bottom of 150 local authorities for the amount of money received from the Government to educate the county’s children.

Every child in a Devon school is now worth £644 less than the national average.

According to the DfE, the top 10 primary schools in Devon based on the percentage of pupils gaining the expected Level 4 in English and maths are:  Canada Hill, Newton Abbot; The Grove, Totnes; Stokenham; Chulmleigh; St Mary’s, Axminster; Thurlestone; The Erme, Ivybridge; Bratton Fleming; Holbeton and Instow.