Allonby Primary School is top of a national league table charting pupil progress.

The school with just 18 pupils is number one out of 125 high achieving schools.

The Department for Education table is based on the progress that children have made from key stage one - their first two years at school - to key stage two - the full four years of junior school.

Joe Kewin, chairman of the school's board of governors, said: "I am delighted that the hard work of the teaching staff and pupils has been recognised in the recent performance tables. 

"It shows how a small rural community school can really shine and provide numerous benefits to pupils that perhaps a larger setting cannot.

"Small classroom sizes, one-to-one tuition and a very close working relationship with parents and carers, means that staff know their pupils inside out and can cater for their every need.

"The school has also now opened a nursery unit and can provide continuous provision from the ages of three to 11."

He congratulated headteacher David Owen for his running of the school.

Mr Owen said: "Despite this gratifying result we can't rest on our laurels. In 2014 Ofsted said we were a good school and outstanding in parts.

"We are working to have an overall outstanding grade."

He said the school's success on the league tables had been down to staff, governors, pupils and the community and he thanked them all.

The only other Cumbrian school to appear on the list was Langwathby Primary School in north Cumbria.