THE latest Key Stage Two primary school tables show that several schools still have much to celebrate, despite county-wide results slipping compared to others across the country.

The tables, published this week, show how primary schools are performing in the key areas of English, maths and science.

Overall as a county Worcestershire came 96th out of 151 local authorities, compared to 85th last year. That ranking is only based on English and maths results.

However despite the general slip there was still cause for celebration for several local schools.

One of the area’s top performers was Callow End Primary, which achieved top marks having got 100 per cent of pupils through at level four or above in all three core subjects - the standard benchmark used to assess pupil performance.

Those results gave the school an average points score of 30.9, placing it among the top performers in the county, while the school’s value added score (CVA), which measures pupils’ improvement, of 101.4 also places it among the top performers.

Headteacher Sue Parker said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the results. They are as a result of hard work from all of the children and all the staff involved.

“Sometimes because we are a smaller school our results don’t get published in these tables, so it’s really good for us to get recognised.”

Welland and Cradley Primary Schools also performed impressively, returning identical results of 100 per cent of pupils attaining level four in English and science and 95 per cent in maths.

In Malvern the top performers were Malvern Parish Primary, which saw 97 per cent of pupils achieve level four in English, 93 per cent in maths and 100 per cent in science and Somers Park Primary, where 95 per cent reached level four in English, 97 per cent in maths and 93 per cent in science.

Malvern Parish headteacher Lynn Gill said: "Once again we are pleased with the children's efforts and hard work."

The figures also reveal that truancy is falling in Worcestershire schools, with less school sessions missed during 2008 than in previous years.

One of the top performers in this field was Malvern Wells Primary, with only 2.70 per cent of sessions missed and no persistent absences Steve Wilkinson, Worcestershire County Council’s principal education officer, said: “Overall absence is falling, which is as a result of the county council’s drive to improve school attendance.”