Children at smallest primary schools more likely to achieve top results

Children at smaller primary schools are more likely to achieve top results than those at the largest schools according to new figures Credit: Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire/Press Association Images

Children who go to England's smallest primary schools are three times more likely to achieve top test scores than those attending the largest schools, official figures suggest.

Around one in seven children at schools teaching between six and 10 pupils achieve an average of 31 points or higher in tests this year, compared with around one in 20 at schools with 100 children or more.

The Department for Education figures, which are for mainstream schools, show more than 200,000 youngsters are being taught in under-performing schools, although the figures show an overall drop in the number of schools considered failing this year.

Schools are expected to meet the Government's floor standard, in which 65% of 11-year-olds reach Level 4 in reading and maths national curriculum tests, along with writing tests assessed by teachers.

Children at smaller primary schools are more likely to achieve top results than those at the largest schools according to new figures Credit: Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire/Press Association Images

In total 676 primaries are now considered below the Government's floor standard, which is 92 fewer than last year. According to analysis of the data, this means about 5% of the primary school population is attending under-performing schools.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "It is essential that every child leaves primary school having mastered the basics in reading, writing and maths - thanks to our education reforms thousands more pupils each year are reaching those standards."

You can check out how your child's school fared in the league tables at the Department for Education website.