PRIMARY school headteachers across Cumbria have congratulated pupils on the hard work put into the Key Stage Two tests - but they warn that test results and league tables do not give the whole picture of a school.

The finalised Key Stage Two test results for every primary school have been released by the Department for Education today.

The tests were taken in May by Year Six children who moved up to secondary schools in September.

The Key Stage Two results in Cumbria for 2017 show a significant improvement on the previous year.

Cumbria saw 61 per cent of children reaching the expected level in reading, writing and maths, the same as the national figure. The Cumbria figure is a rise of 10 per cent, compared to an eight per cent increase nationally.

Cumbria Key Stage Two Table 2017 - Percentage of pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths

There were 74 per cent of pupils meeting the target level in reading in the county, while the national result was 72 per cent. The Cumbria result for writing was 77 per cent, again above the national figure of 76 per cent.

In maths the county figure was 74 per cent, compared to the national result of 75 per cent. The spelling, punctuation and grammar result for Cumbria was 76 per cent, while the national figure was 77 per cent.

Cumbria’s results in writing result increased by seven per cent compared with a national increase of two per cent.

Progress from Key Stage One to Key Stage Two in reading and writing in Cumbria is equivalent to the national progress, but is slightly below in mathematics.

Nicola Rielly, executive headteacher of the Our Lady of Furness Catholic Federation schools, praised the pupils and staff of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, in Dalton and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, in Ulverston on the excellent test results. But Mrs Rielly also said test results only give a tiny glance on schools, not showing all the exciting activities happening across the curriculum.

At Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School all pupils reached the excepted level in the reading and spelling, punctuation and grammar tests. There was 92 per cent of the group reaching that target level in writing and maths.

At St Mary's Catholic Primary School all pupils reached the expected level in writing and 93 per cent in the other tests.

Mrs Rielly said: "Again our school community is delighted, but not surprised, with our pupils’ results in the 2017 SATs. These results are recognition of our federation curriculum where we provide a rich tapestry of different subjects and learning experiences.

"Learning and teaching is our main focus and all staff are passionate and successful in providing for pupils engagement and enjoyment. This provides a learning environment, where pupils excel and have a thirst for learning. The SATs results are only a small celebration of our pupils’ achievement."

Lanercost CE Primary School, near Brampton, was Cumbria's best performing school based on pupils reaching the expected level and those achieving the higher level.

All pupils at the hamlet school reached the target level in reading, writing and maths. There were 88 per cent of the group reaching the target level in spelling, punctuation and grammar.

The North Cumbria school also saw 25 per cent of the class reach the higher level in reading, writing and maths.

Alison Clarricoats, the headteacher of Lanercost CE Primary School, said the school community is proud of the group. Mrs Clarricoats reiterated that the outstanding results give just a small view of school, as they do not include activities such as sport and the creative arts.

The head said: "The children worked very hard indeed. We are very proud of every one of them. They were committed and determined.

"The children were well supported by the whole school community."

Although Lanercost strives for pupils to achieve their academic potential, the priority is to have well rounded and happy children.

Mrs Clarricoats said: "Our children leave here as well rounded children who have had lots of opportunities and are prepared for secondary school. Their primary years should be memorable and enjoyable."

She said the children just get on with the tests, which they are gradually prepared from their learning on the education journey from nursery to Year Six.

Councillor Sue Sanderson, cabinet Member for Schools and Learning on Cumbria County Council, said: “These results show a real improvement. We are extremely proud of all the children and very grateful to them, their teachers and their families for working so hard to achieve such positive results. It is particularly pleasing to see that the number of our disadvantaged pupils achieving the expected standard increased significantly in all subjects over the last year.

"On the combined measure of reading, writing and maths, the disadvantaged pupils achieving the benchmark increased by 13 per cent. This means that, in 2017, disadvantaged pupils now outperform their national peers in all subjects. We will continue to work closely with our system partners to drive further improvements going forward.”

The number of primary school pupils nationally meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths has risen to 61 per cent, compared to 53 per cent in 2016 which was the first year of major changes to assessments.

School standards minister Nick Gibb said the results showed "teachers and pupils have responded well to the new, more rigorous curriculum".

The number of schools considered to be under-performing has also dropped. Schools are considered to be under-performing if fewer than 65 per cent of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, or if they don not make sufficient progress in the three key areas.

Mr Gibb said: "Teachers and pupils have responded well to the new more rigorous curriculum introduced by this Government and these pupils were the first to benefit from the new approach to phonics.

"There are now 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010, with nine out of 10 primary schools given this rating at their last inspection - and our recent rise up the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls) rankings puts the success of our reforms and the hard work of teachers on a global scale.

"This means that pupils are now leaving primary school better prepared for the rigours of secondary school and for future success in their education."