THE new primary school league tables show that youngsters in the St Albans district are out-performing their peers in other areas of England.

Most schools in the area are beating the national average scores for the three core subjects, English, Mathematics and Science.

And many have improved dramatically on results contained in last year's table, reflecting the progression shown nationwide.

The league tables are based on tests taken last May by children around 11 years of age.

One school which has beaten the national and local averages in every subject is Crabtree Junior School in Harpenden.

Head teacher Julie Fitch said: "We are proud of all our children's achievements, but not just those reflected in test scores."

She added: "As they are presented at the moment, the tables show only part of a school's work. They give no indication of how much progress has been made."

Sue Dutt, head teacher of Prae Wood JMI School in King Harry Lane, St Albans, was also proud of her school's performance, but stressed the tables should not be parents' only pointer to high education standards. She said: "These tables are only one part of the picture that parents need to build up about a school. They need to go into the schools and see for themselves."

Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council's education committee Bob Mays, while commending the work and effort injected by pupils and teachers, echoed this view.

He said: "We must remember that these results tell only part of the story about how good a school really is.

"Parents will only appreciate many other aspects of a school's appeal by visiting it themselves and talking to the staff and children."

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