Village school ranked as second best in the county

Dr Thomlinson’s Church of England Middle School has been rated the second best primary school in Northumberland by Trinity Mirror’s Real Schools Guide.

This is partly in recognition of the Key Stage 2 (Year 6) SATs and other results from 2015, but the ranking system takes into account 42 different data sets, including value added measures, pupil­-to-teacher ratios and absence rates.

Now in Year 7, the pupils achieved record results in their SATs last year with 100 per cent achieving the expected level in reading, 98 per cent in maths, 96 per cent in grammar, punctuation and spelling and 94 per cent in writing.

These results are between 12 and 21 per cent above the national average.

Many pupils achieved higher than expected levels across the subjects and eight pupils achieved the highest possible grade in their maths papers, gaining a Level Six.

Deputy headteacher and head of English, Stephanie Whaley, said: “Our Year 7 pupils have achieved outstanding results and it is fantastic to see this rewarded by a high position in the Real Schools Guide.

“We try to deliver a rounded education, encouraging participation in sport, art, drama, music and Forest School so that pupils enjoy learning and really want to come to school.

“I think the more academic subjects benefit from this attitude to learning and we are seeing great results.”

Graham Russell, head of maths, added: “The incredible work put in by all of the pupils in both English and maths has really paid off.

“Our Year 7s have set such a high standard in their SATs so both pupils and teachers will be working hard to match their performance in the coming years.”

The top-rated school was Cramlington Eastlea Primary School with two other schools in the town in the top five.