PUPILS in Knowsley are putting their national counterparts to shame when it comes to grasping English, maths and science.
But today’s Key Stage Two table will show Liverpool is at the bottom of the region’s rankings.
Because 11-year-olds in the city have failed to improve on last year’s score, it means Liverpool is now the only Merseyside and Cheshire local authority not beating the UK overall aggregate for English, science and maths.
Last night, education officials in Knowsley hailed beating the national average as a “significant milestone”.
Government figures show the percentage of Knowsley pupils meeting the expected level in maths has gone from 76-81; science 90 to 91.
English – reflecting the national picture and situation across Merseyside and Cheshire – has fallen slightly from 80-79%. But its aggregate score across all three subjects has shot up from 246 to 251, which dwarfs the national score, which has dropped from 248 to 247.
The borough’s executive director of children’s services, Damian Allen, said it was a momentous moment for Knowsley’s primary schools.
“We have been narrowing the gap for the last 10 years and to exceed the national average is a significant milestone.”
Measures credited for bringing about the success range from increasing the quality of teaching to schools sharing ideas and extra staff at schools needing to bolster English and maths.
