PRIMARY Schools in Wyre Forest and the surrounding area have fared fairly well in the latest achievement tables.

The results were based on key stage 2 national curriculum Standard Assessment Tests - SATs - on the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. They were taken in May by children aged 10 and 11.

Headteachers were mainly pleased with the results, although scores in mathematics followed the Worcestershire-wide trend of being lower than the average for England.

This year, the average percentages of children in England reaching the level four competency benchmarks were 80 per cent in English, 77 per cent in mathematics and 88 per cent in science.

Ninety per cent or more of the 31 eligible pupils at St Wulstan's Catholic Primary school in Stourport achieved level four or above in all three core areas.

That repeated the school's 2006 results and St Wulstan's was the only school in Wyre Forest to attain a result higher than the national average in mathematics.

Chris Wilkins, headteacher, said: "The children worked very hard. They achieved a lot and we are pleased because they did their best."

He added: "The results only show a small proportion of what the children do at school and we feel they do well in other areas that these tests don't show."

Mr Wilkins explained that the contextual value added assessment was the most important result for parents to look at.

That measured progress made by children from the end of key stage 1 and took into account the different starting points of pupils and factors outside a school's control, such as mobility and deprivation.

St Wulstan's scored 103.3, compared to a county average of 99.7 which, Mr Wilkins said, showed pupils were making good progress as they moved through the school.

At Astley Church of England Primary School, 11 pupils were eligible for the tests and 91 per cent attained level 4 or above in English, 73 per cent in mathematics and 100 per cent in science.

Julie Prior, headteacher, said: "We are pleased with the results. Our science total was higher than anticipated, which is down to our good teaching staff and a wide range of learning experiences."

As a result of the Wyre Forest review and the reclassification of schools from a three-tier to two-tier system, only six schools in Wyre Forest and the surrounding area were tested.

At Bayton Church of England Primary School, 100 per cent of pupils reached the national benchmark or above in English, 69 per cent in mathematics and 92 per cent in science.

The school's average point score was 30.2, compared to the county average of 27.8 and England's average of 27.9.

Great Witley CofE Primary School's results were 92 per cent in English, 71 per cent in mathematics and 96 per cent in science and an average point score of 27.9.

Pupils at Blakedown Church of England Primary School reached level 4 and above in 82 per cent of cases in English, 76 per cent in mathematics and 100 per cent in science.

Kidderminster's St Ambrose Catholic School had 31 eligible pupils, 81 per cent of whom reached the national benchmark in English, 68 per cent in mathematics and 94 per cent in science.

Conservative councillor, Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Our key stage 2 results are roughly in line with historic results, although there has been a slight slippage in maths.

"However, when we put this in the context of the huge Wyre Forest Review and upheaval too in Bromsgrove, then these results stand up as quite good.

"A major part of the Children and Young People's Plan that we're looking to deliver with our partners is to focus on maths and I do believe that a greater understanding of the new primary numeracy strategy will help us achieve this.

"At the end of the day, any successes on the ground are down to a joint effort and are testament to the hard work of staff, parents, governors and pupils."

Worcestershire's aggregate point score ranked it fifth in the West Midlands Government Office region, also consisting of Herefordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.