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In a class of their own

Pamela Welsh
28/ 2/2008

STAFF and pupils across the city are celebrating after Salford came in top of the class this week as national league tables were published.

St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Swinton and Walkden High School trounced the national average with an average points score of 36.1.

This figure is based on exams taken at Key Stage 3, or Year 9, commonly known as SATs.

The news is the latest in a string of successes for St Ambrose Barlow, which also did well in January’s Key Stage 4 tables.

Marie Garside, headteacher of St Ambrose, said: "We have a consistent drive in the school to work for the best outcome for each individual child.

"The results are a confirmation of the consistent hard work and determination of the staff.

"It is also a confirmation of the good work that the staff do and it gives us all a boost.

"But despite all our good results, we will never rest on our laurels here. We are constantly striving to make our school better."

All Hallows RC Business and Enterprise College in Weaste also did well, coming top of the list of Salford state schools with the highest Contextual Value Added, with a score of 101.1.

This score measures a child’s progress throughout their school career, from when they join until Year 9, and takes into account their background including ethnicity and gender.

Monica Owens, headteacher at All Hallows, said: "We are very pleased with the results - we have great children at All Hallows and are pleased that this has been recognised."

Salford schools have also been recognised nationally, with Swinton High School named in one of the top 100 most improved schools in the country.

The school, in Sefton Road, came in at number 33 in the list of the schools showing sustained improvement from 2004 to 2007.

Headteacher John Biddlestone said: "It’s fantastic to see that the hard work of our pupils, staff and governing body is recognised and rewarded in this way.

"I am delighted for them all because they deserve this accolade. We continue in our commitment to do even better in every way this year and in the future because our children deserve it."

Schools Minister Jim Knight congratulated the pupils, parents and teaching staff at Swinton High School.

He said: "I am delighted to see the excellent sustained improvement at Swinton High School over recent years. How pupils achieve at Key Stage 3 provides a firm foundation for their future achievement – whether they go down the academic path to GCSE, A level or university – or if they take the vocational route via the new diplomas or apprenticeships, to their chosen career."