A SMALL village school is celebrating for the second time this month following the release of primary performance tables.

Staff and pupils at Withnell Fold CP School were delighted to discover it had come eighth best throughout the whole of Lancashire this week.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the school was given a special mention for being an outstanding primary in this year's annual OFSTED report.

On Tuesday, the National Curriculum Stage 2 assessment results - in English, maths and science - for 11-year-olds - were released nationwide.

The figures showed the percentage of pupils in each school who reached Level 4 - the level of achievement of a typical 11-year-old at the end of Key Stage 2 - in each of the three subjects.

Withnell Fold, with 15 pupils eligible for the tests, scored 87 per cent (English); 100 per cent (maths); and 100 per cent (science), pushing it up from 10th last time to eighth this.

Though head teacher Sue Teale said she believed the league tables did not paint the complete picture of a school's work, she was obviously delighted with Withnell Fold's achievement.

"It is nice to know what we are doing is in line and above the national average," she said.

"We have been acknowledge now for two successes. It is nice to have the children's academic achievements recognised, but then again league tables don't tell you everything."

Two other Chorley schools made it into the Lancashire top 20.

Euxton St Mary's RC Primary scored 95-90-10 per cent to come joint 11th and Clayton-le-Woods CE 94-94-94 per cent in join 18th.

At the bottom end of the table were All Saints in 407th with 42-19-35 per cent; Highfield CP in 371st with 54-34-52 per cent; and Coppull Parish CE in equal 363rd with 58-36-52 per cent.

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