Devon primary schools best in South West

Devon schools rank 56th out of 149 local authorities say Government figures

DEVON’S primary schools are the best in the South West, say Government figures released at Christmas.

The latest statistics are for the percentage of pupils achieving the nationally expected Level Four in both English and maths in their SATs tests this summer.

Devon ranks joint 56th out of 149 local authorities with 76 percent of pupils gaining Level Four in both subjects.

The national average is 74 percent.

In Devon, 83 percent of pupils achieved Level Four in just English, and 82 percent in just maths, ranking them higher than counterparts in other West Country counties, such as Dorset and Cornwall.

Devon County Council’s cabinet member for schools and learning, Councillor Christine Channon, congratulated Devon’s pupils, teachers and their families.

She said: “This is once again an extremely creditable performance for Devon schools, despite the fact that they are the sixth worst funded in the country.

“The Government has pledged to review the current unfair system which results in a postcode lottery of education funding in which children in Devon lose out badly.”

She paid tribute to Devon’s schools, its pupils and teachers, saying: “The fact that our children continue to achieve above average results, despite well below average funding, is a tribute to them, all the staff who teach them and the support they receive from their families.”

She said Ofsted had judged 11 percent of schools to be outstanding, 46 percent good, 38 percent satisfactory and six percent inadequate.

In the past term, there were four outstanding DCC primary schools, six good, two satisfactory and one coming out of special measures.

Devon has seven schools in the top 200 primaries in the country, including Clyst Hydon in East Devon.