Most of the primary schools in the area which featured in this year's national performance tables passed their examinations with flying colours.

Only five local schools appeared in the 2000/2001 tables, because Borehamwood's new primary schools will not be included until next year.

Elstree's St Nicholas School, Shenley Primary School and Radlett's Newberries School and Fair Field School all got promising results in the tables.

The only school in Borehamwood to be listed, St Teresa's, showed disappointing results, which it said was largely due to staff absences.

Clive Anstey, the headteacher at St Nicholas School, said: "We are pleased with our results we believe our standards are increasing all the time."

The Department for Education's performance tables focused on the achievements of pupils in the Key Stage Two exams for 11-year-olds.

At St Nicholas the figures for achieving the expected Level 4 grade were 96 per cent in Science, 85 per cent in Maths and 78 per cent in English.

The national average for local authority schools in 2000/2001 was 75 per cent in English, 71 per cent in Maths and 87 per cent in Science.

Earlier this term the county council labelled St Nicholas as Above Average and Improving, in terms of its results, teaching and management.

At St Teresa's, 62 per cent of the pupils tested got a Level 4 in English, while 50 per cent achieved this in Maths and 65 per cent in Science.

Headteacher Mike Nolan said: "These pupils had three years when there were long-term staff sicknesses and unfortunately this has affected the results."

Shenley Primary's Level 4 achievement figures were 93 per cent in English, 85 per cent in Maths and 95 per cent in Science.

The proportions of pupils who got Level 4 grades at Newberries School were 90 per cent in English, 93 per cent in Maths and 100 per cent in Science.

Meanwhile, at Fair Field School, 95 per cent of the pupils got a Level 4 in English, 83 per cent in Maths and 100 per cent in Science.

Borehamwood's eight new primary schools will be included in the tables for 2001/2002, after they have held their first Key Stage Two exams.

December 12, 2001 12:13

MARK FOY