FOUR primary schools in Farnham have been ranked in the top seven per cent in England for Key Stage Two SATS results.

The latest school league tables give an expected standard – a scaled score of 100 or more – and a higher score – 110 or more – in reading and maths plus a teacher assessment in writing for 11 year olds.

Topping the list in Farnham is South Farnham School, where 98 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, with 29 per cent working at the higher standard.

This is followed by a fellow member of the South Farnham multi-academy trust, the previously-struggling Highfield South Farnham School, where 91 per cent reached the expected standard, and four per cent the higher standard.

Also excelling is Rowledge School, where the figures are 86 per cent and 14 per cent, and St Polycarp’s where they are 80 per cent and 29 per cent.

Two further local schools, Waverley Abbey (68 and 10 per cent) and St Peter’s (61 and 14 per cent), also exceeded the Surrey average of 60 per cent as well as a national average of 54 per cent.

The remaining figures for the area are Potters Gate (48 per cent expected standard and no children at higher standard), and Hale (39 and nine per cent).

Parents have, however, been urged to treat the league tables with caution following controversial changes to national curriculum tests and the system for assessing the performance of primary schools.

Last summer’s “more rigorous” SATs for 11 year olds were criticised by many teachers and parents at the time of being chaotic and poorly thought-out, and the data released just before Christmas has been dismissed by Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, as “not worth the paper it is written on”.

“The government itself has said that it cannot be used to trigger interventions in schools, nor can it be compared to previous years,” Mr Hobby added.

“Schools are measured on progress as well as attainment and over 94 per cent of schools are above the floor standard on this basis.

“The government must do more to communicate this fact rather than let schools be unfairly pilloried.”