Resort schools on the up!

Naomi Kennedy, five, and Jake Capstick, four, take part in a reading challenge at Bryning with Warton St Pauls Primary.

Blackpool schools figures show 17 of the resort’s 30 primary schools have improved their reading, writing and maths scores, up by 19 per cent in two schools – Marton and Our Lady of the Assumption primary schools.

In Wyre 20 of the 36 primary schools saw improvements to Level Four scores – a further three retained their levels.

And in Fylde 13 of 23 schools improved the same results. Singleton CE Primary School retained its 100 per cent record.

Teachers have said it is not league tables and results that motivate them though, but the personal improvement of each of their pupils.

Karen McCarter, headteacher at Norbreck Academy in Blackpool, which saw a rise from 76 per cent to 78 per cent, said: “What matters to me is children making progress and enjoying school.

“That’s what motivates me and what motivates teachers, we’re not motivated by league tables, we do what we do because of the children.”

In 2013, 76 per cent of children (aged 10 and 11) left schools having achieved level four in reading, writing and maths, up three percent from last year and level with the national average.

This is a huge jump from three years ago. In 2010, only 55 per cent of pupils were achieving the same target.

Coun Ivan Taylor, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Year upon year, staff, teachers and headteachers work extremely hard to improve the level of education that our children get at school.

“Our primary schools are extremely well thought of, with around 80 per cent of them rated as either good or outstanding by Ofsted.”

• Coming soon... the full league tables and reaction to the results in The Gazette.