HARD-WORKING pupils in Trafford have achieved the second best results in the whole country, according to the latest primary school statistics.

The release of the provisional Key Stage 2 attainment outcomes, for children aged 7-11, show Trafford Council having risen to be joint second best out of 152 local authorities in England.

The council, which is the best performing borough in the North West, finished alongside Kensington & Chelsea, and were just pipped to top spot by Richmond-upon-Thames.

At the end of Year 6, pupils were tested nationally in three subjects – reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling; and mathematics.

Combined, 75 per cent of pupils reached the expected target in Trafford, compared with a national average of 64 per cent nationally and 64 per cent in the North West.

Individually, 84 per cent of children achieved the expected target for reading in Trafford, against a national average of 75 per cent.

In grammar, punctuation and spelling, 86 per cent reached the expected target in Trafford, compared with 78 per cent nationally.

In Mathematics, 83 per cent of pupils achieved the national target against a national average of 76 per cent.

Cllr Jane Baugh, executive member for children’s services, was delighted with the results.

She said: “To be the best performing council outside of London, and second in the country, is testament to the amazing efforts put in by our pupils.

“We’ve always taken great pride in our schools achieving the best results in the region but to do so well nationally is a great accomplishment.

“I would also like to congratulate the incredible teachers and staff in our schools for their superb dedication to ensuring every pupil realises their true potential.

“These great results cannot be seen in isolation, so I would also like to thank all the efforts of our nursery and early years staff, as well as parents and guardians of the children.

“They should all take great pride in this fantastic achievement.”

Trafford students also achieved significantly better GCSE results than the national average, with 90 per cent of 16-year-olds earning a grade 4 or above in English, compared to the national average of 70 per cent, and 85 per cent achieving a grade 4 or higher in Maths.