An analysis of this year’s Key Stage 2 test results has shown that almost one in five of the top-performing mainstream primary schools in England are Catholic. Government figures show that 21 of the top 115 – 18% – primary schools for value added are Catholic. This result is twice as high as would be expected from the proportion of Catholic maintained schools (approximately one in ten maintained schools are Catholic).

The top-performing Catholic primary school in the value-added table is St. Patrick’s, Camden. The government statistics showed that pupils at St. Patrick’s made a year’s more progress than would normally be expected. The most recent Ofsted report on the schools reported, “Approximately 58 percent of the pupils are from ethnic minority groups and around 18 percent are from refugee families. Nearly half of the pupils speak English as an additional language.” Christine Wells, the school’s headteacher said she was extremely pleased with the results, “We have so many adults supporting the children – it’s not just teachers, teaching assistants and support staff. Parents are fantastically supportive and many parishioners come in and provide a huge amount of pastoral support. If children are safe, cared for and happy, then they’re ready to learn in a nurturing environment.”

Catholic schools across the country were able to celebrate particularly good results: other high-achieving schools include Blessed Robert Widmerpool in Nottingham, St. Cross in Hertfordshire, St. Aloysius in Knowsley, Servite School in Kensington and Chelsea, St. Helen’s in Lambeth and St. Augustine’s in Lewisham.

The DfES also published a table of schools which have improved their results every year for the past four years. Catholic schools were well-represented with Sacred Heart in Henley and St. Raphael’s in Stalybridge being in the top twenty nationally.

Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of the Catholic Education Service, said, “Whilst Catholic schools are not just about academic achievement, it is always pleasing when the success of Catholic education is recognised. These results are a tribute to the dedication and professionalism of staff and governors in our schools, as well as the hard work of the children, who are obviously thriving at Catholic schools.”

She continued, “I am particularly pleased that Catholic schools in so many different settings have achieved excellent results. These results clearly demonstrate that Catholic schools make an invaluable contribution to thousands of diverse and distinctive communities across the country.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact Peter Walsh, Policy and Briefings Manager, pwalsh@cesew.org.uk, 0207 901 4854

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Catholic Education Service is the national agency which promotes and supports Catholic education. Almost 750,000 pupils attend more than 2,200 Catholic schools and colleges in England and Wales.
2. The Value Added measure is the government’s preferred means of comparing schools’ performance. A DfES statement explained, “The value added measure is a better reflection of school effectiveness because it adjusts for differences in prior attainment. The value added measure for each school is based on individual pupil progress between Key Stage 1 [aged 7] and Key Stage 2 [aged 11].”
3. Before joining the CES, Oona Stannard worked for 10 years as an HMI. Oona Stannard is available for interview. Please contact Peter Walsh on 0207 901 4854 to arrange a time.