A PRIMARY school in Royston has become one of the top 30 schools in the country. St Mary s Catholic Primary School in Melbourn Road, has been identified as one of the country s leading primary schools after the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)

A PRIMARY school in Royston has become one of the top 30 schools in the country.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Melbourn Road, has been identified as one of the country's leading primary schools after the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) released its latest Key Stage 2 results.

St Mary's was ranked 29th in the country.

In May, thousands of pupils in their final year of primary school were put to the test in English, Science and Maths.

Out of a possible score of 300, the 28 St Mary's pupils taking part scored an impressive 246, with the majority reaching Level 5 standards - well above the national average.

Commenting on the schools achievement, head teacher Tony Carroll said: "We are extremely pleased to be considered as one of the top primary schools in England, but the test results are only part of the story of a successful school.

"There are so many other aspects of school life that are as important if not more important than rankings in league tables.

"We place great emphasis on the personal development of every child and there are no league tables for that."

St Mary's placing is even more impressive, considering there are more than 16,000 primary schools in the country and the Level 5 status that pupils attained is usually only reached by 14-year-olds.

Mr Carroll said: "We are committed to giving our pupils a wide experience outside of the classroom and we give them many opportunities for day trips and extended residential visits.

"We are proud of our tradition of giving our pupils the opportunities of a varied curriculum which does not involve testing."

Other schools in the area also proved a success, highlighted by the fact Herts finished seventh in the Primary School Local Authority League Table.

Overall, the results showed that primary schools in the county are doing better than ever with an increase in each of the curriculum's core subjects.

Science results were high, with 91 per cent of pupils reaching the required standard in National Curriculum Level 4 and above - a 1 per cent increase on last year's results.

In maths, results were also up by one per cent, with 81 per cent of pupils achieving the required Level 4 standard.

And in English, pupils maintained the high standards set in 2005 with 84 per cent reaching Level 4, 5 per cent higher than the national average.

Level 5 results were also up in all three subjects, particularly in English which was up by 8 per cent.

Cllr David Lloyd, Hertfordshire's executive member for Education, said: "These results and the significant improvements at Level 5 in all three subjects means that Hertfordshire has increased its lead as one of the highest performing local authorities in England.

"It puts the county in the top 10 per cent of schools."

Greneway School in Garden Walk, Royston, and Roysia Middle School in Burns Road, Royston, also achieved well in the Key Stage 2 findings.

Greneway head teacher Susan Kennedy said: "The school and governors are delighted by our recent Key Stage 2 results.

"We have a good team here and we prepare all pupils for their tests, while keeping the full school enrichment programme which is equally important.

"The school has done exceptionally well."

Roysia head teacher Peter Fielden said: "The pupils and their teachers in Year 5 and Year 6 have put in a great deal of work over the last two years and we are pleased with their results and the children have made sound progress.

"The results continue the improvements we have been making in recent years.

"School support structures are particularly good in Hertfordshire with opportunities to share resources and best practice.

"Teachers in Royston's first and middle schools have been co-operating closely with each other, working together and exchanging ideas. Which all bodes well for thefuture.