DONCASTER'S 11-year-olds saw their performance in national tests drop this year –- but they remained the best in South Yorkshire.
Final figures for key stage two SATs, for pupils at the end of their primary education, were down three per cent, but remained at the national average.
In all, 79 per cent of pupils passed their English tests at the required levels, along with 79
per cent in maths, and 89 per cent in science.
The national figure was 80 per cent for English, 79 per cent for maths, and 88 per cent for science.
The borough was 10 per cent higher than the other South Yorkshire authorities. Sheffield's pass rate rose by one per cent, Rotherham's was the same as last year, while Barnsley fell by one per cent.
Marylin Green, Doncaster Council's Schools, Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel chairman, said the council had a new team in charge of its children's services departments and hoped that would help improve the grades.
She said: "These scores are about average, but we want to be better than average, so we can get our children better jobs when they grow up, and give them a better future. That is what the new team is aiming for. They have been like a breath of fresh air trying to change things.
"I think teachers and students have worked hard to achieve these results, and we still want to improve even if we are performing the best in South Yorkshire. We want the best for our children."
This year's results are released as the whole future of the primary SATs system is questioned – science tests are being scrapped next year and Schools' Secretary Ed Balls has hinted all the exams may be axed in 2012. Official target pass rates are not being met and now seem to have been quietly dropped.
A new Conservative government would also introduce a shake-up, testing pupils instead when they move to secondary school.
Teaching unions meanwhile are still urging a boycott of next year's SATs because they say teachers are obliged to "teach to the test".
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