Black Country Key Stage 2 results

Apr 1 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

SENIOR education officials across the Black Country were all smiles today after thousands of 11-year-olds achieved another set of excellent classroom test results.

Lengthy delays in publishing today’s national Key Stage 2 results due to last year’s marking fiasco failed to take away the enjoyment felt by many.

Pupils and teachers across Dudley led the way by improving their aggregate score for the number of 11-year-olds achieving the expected Level 4 in English, maths and science.

After standing still 12 months ago, the figure has now risen from 240 out of a possible 300 to 250, with an 82 per cent pass rate in English, 79 per cent in maths and 89 per cent in science.

That puts Dudley tantalisingly ahead of the new national average – by just one per cent in each of the three core subjects.

At the same time, 28 per cent achieved higher than the national expectation by attaining a Level 5 in English, with 31 per cent attaining a Level 5 in maths and an impressive 44 per cent in science.

Coun Liz Walker, Dudley’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We are delighted with this latest set of results which shows our pupils are achieving well.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to all the pupils, parents or carers and, of course, the school and local authority staff.”

Close on the heels of Dudley’s improved performance is Walsall, who took their aggregate score from the same 2007 total of 240 to 247 based on last year’s KS2 tests.

Walsall’s Year 6 pupils achieved 81 per cent in English – a rise of three per cent – 79 per cent in maths (up four per cent) and 87 per cent in science.

This now puts it virtually on a par with the national average of 81 per cent (English), 78 per cent (maths) and 88 per cent (science).

Walsall saw its overall ranking in English rise to 74th, making it the 15th most improved authority in the country, while in maths the borough improved even further to 50th, making it the fifth most improved authority nationally.

Tony Stainer, managing director for Walsall Children’s Services – Serco, said: “We are delighted with the performance of our schools this year and give well- deserved praise to all staff and pupils.”

And cabinet member for children’s services, Coun Zahid Ali, added: “These results are great news and testament to all the hard work going on across Walsall to raise standards of achievement.”

Sandwell saw the proportion of its 11-year-olds who achieved the required Level 4 improve by one per cent in each of the three subjects, to stand at 77 per cent in English, 74 per cent in maths and 85 per cent in science.

Leading the way were Lightwoods Primary in Oldbury and St Gregory’s Catholic Primary in Smethwick who both emerged joint top in the country with 100 per cent in all three subjects.

That particular achievement was matched by Our Lady and St Kenelm RC Primary in Halesowen, St Joseph’s RC Primary in Stourbridge, St Anne’s Catholic Primary in Streetly, and Whetstone Field Primary, Aldridge.

Also deserving praise is Walsall Wood Primary in Brownhills which emerged as the second most improved school in the country after taking its aggregate score from just 120 in 2005 to 288 out of 300 last year.

Dudley league table > > >