STAFF and pupils at an Astley Bridge school are celebrating after coming top of the league in the primary school performance tables for Bolton.

The figures were released by the Government today and they show that Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School has jumped from 15th place in the performance tables last year to top place this year.

Their surprise climb up the tables has knocked Walmsley Primary School, Egerton, off the number one spot. It is now at number 2.

The tables are based on the percentage of pupils who achieved Level 4 in Key Stage 2 tests in English, maths and science. Pupils at Holy Infant School gained 100 per cent in both maths and science and 94 per cent in English

The acting head, Veronica Wainwright, was surprised but delighted by the school's place in the tables.

Mrs Wainwright, who has worked at the Mitre Street school for 31 years and will be moving to Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary, in Farnworth, next term, said: "This is a nice note for me to leave on.

"We're lucky to have a caring and hard working staff who work as a team. If the staff are happy, then they work harder. This will be brilliant for morale."

Former headteacher, Bernadette Chapman, retired in August and was delighted with her pupils' achievement, but cast doubt on the relevance of the tables.

She said: "This is a nice surprise. I wouldn't want to denigrate the achievement of staff or pupils, but we're a school and not a football team and league tables do not show the full picture.

"The school won't know if they can repeat that sort of success next year and it puts everyone under extra pressure."

The rankings are compiled by adding together the percentages of children achieving level four in each subject. Ties are broken by taking into account the number of pupils at each school.