Last year's national curriculum test results, formerly known as SATs, are published today, almost four months later than usual after marking problems. Zena Hawley discovers that the tables are viewed in a variety of ways by schools, unions and councils.

SCHOOLS in Derby have reason to celebrate after last year's tests results showed an overall improvement on those from 2007.

In all three core subjects – English, maths and science – the number of pupils across the city reaching the required level four or above for pupils aged 11 rose.

There was a 3% improvement in English, up to 78%, and also in science, which rose from 83% to 86%. Maths saw the biggest improvement with a rise of 4% to 76%.

This meant that Derby City Council was the 15th most-improved education authority in English nationally and the fifth most-improved in both maths and science.

In total, 2,883 pupils in the city's junior and primary schools took the tests last May.

Councillor Les Allen, council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The improvements are very good news for schools, children and their parents, especially when we remember that our GCSE results in 2008 were the most improved in England.

"This success reflects the hard work and commitment of staff and children and augurs well for future success at secondary school level.

"We will continue to work in close partnership with schools to ensure that standards continue to rise.

"Although pleased with last year's results, there is a strong determination from schools and the local authority to do even better this year."

At the top of the pile is Lawn Primary School, Allestree, with a cumulative percentage score in all three subjects of 297 out of a possible 300.

This was followed by Griffe Field Primary, in Heatherton, with 284 and Homefields Primary, Chellaston, with 283.

There are also several schools which have boosted their results this year and, although they are not at the top of the table, have put in solid performances.

Among them is Bishop Lonsdale C of E Primary, in St Alban's Road, Derby, which improved its English result by 38%, up to 90%, and Grampian Primary, Sinfin, where the number of pupils gaining level four or above increased by 18% to 63%.

At Mickleover Primary School, the number of pupils gaining level five or above in English rose by 22% to 52%.

Pupils sit their tests in May as they reach age 11 and prepare to complete key stage two at the end of primary school.

Level four is the expected standard for the age group but pupils are able to reach level five taking the same test.

At Roe Farm Primary School, Chaddesden, the number of pupils reaching level four or above in maths rose by 36% to 93% and in science by 28% to 97%, meaning that the school saw its results improve by 87 percentage points.

In science, 33% more pupils gained level five than the previous year but head teacher Kate Williams maintained there was still plenty of work to do.

She said: "We had a large number of children do better than expected but we also had some who did not do as well as we thought they would.

"So you look at these results with mixed thoughts and realise that you can never afford to relax because it is an ongoing challenge to make sure that pupils fulfil their potential."

Increasingly, Mrs Williams is aware that the tests are just one way of many that can be used to assess pupils.

She said: "We can't wait until the national tests come around each year to check how our pupils are doing.

"We need to continually assess pupil performance and make sure pupils are doing their best.

"It's not about teaching children to pass tests but to make sure that they're given knowledge that will be useful to them in the long term."

The Worcester Crescent school has developed a series of strategies to help if pupils fall behind in their studies.

This includes ensuring that English and maths are taught across the curriculum through a range of subjects such as art, music and history.

The school also has interactive white boards, meaning that pupils can view images captured from the internet.

Mrs Williams said: "We've been doing projects on Romans and Tudors and it's an exciting challenge to involve the children in many different things, from writing to dressing up.

"Things have changed a great deal over the past few years and now it's all about making sure every child has value added to their education.

"No matter what level they arrive here at, we want to make sure that we can see improvement by the time they leave.

"When I feel that some children could do better, even though they have done well, I know that we can't afford to rest on our laurels."

This year's tables contain a new element which combines the percentages for English and maths – two core subjects that the Government is keen to see promoted even more strongly.

Derby's overall average for this measure is 70%, up 5% from 2007.

Once again, the tables feature a value-added measure, which shows how much pupils have progressed from the time they start full-time education in key stage one to the end of key stage two.

Using a complicated formula, a figure based around 100 is produced. A school figure in excess of that means that more value has been added to its pupils' education than one that has a figure below 100.

In Derby, Griffe Field Primary, Heatherton, has the biggest value-added figure of 101.5, meaning that pupils have made progress from the level they entered at age five. Behind them is Homefields Primary, in Chellaston, with 100.9, and third is Shelton Junior with 100.7.

Some pupils enter a school with above-average assessment levels, particularly in leafy suburb areas, and schools have to work harder if they are to show progress above expected levels.

In deprived areas, poorer results can still mean extra value has been put in if a school can demonstrate progress, even if it isn't up to the expected level. Using the value-added measure is meant to show both of these aspects.

Council officials also have good reasons to celebrate after they discovered that four more schools achieved the expected level than last year in English and maths and two in science.

Among the schools run by the county council in the Evening Telegraph's circulation area, seven achieved a perfect 300 percentage points' score.

They are: Coton-in-the-Elms C of E Primary; English Martyrs' Catholic Primary, Long Eaton; Osmaston C of E Primary; Rosliston C of E Primary; Rowsley C of E Primary; Stonebroom Prim-ary; Turnditch C of E Primary and William Gilbert Primary, in Duffield.

It is the third year in a row that Coton-in the Elms Primary has achieved 300 points.

The school with the highest value-added measure was Newbold C of E Primary, in the north of the county, with 102.8.

Loscoe Primary achieved a value-added measure of 101.6, and Coton-in-the Elms Primary 101.5, together with Kniveton C of E Primary and William Gilbert Endowed, in Duffield.

But Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for schools, was concerned some of the much-publicised problems surrounding delays in marking last year could have affected overall results.

Tests in the county were taken by 8,670 11-year-olds and 82% achieved level four or above in English, up 1% from 2007; 80% achieved level or above in maths, an increase of 2%; and the number reaching the required level in science increased from 89% to 90%.

Mr Charles said: "There's got to be a health check on this year's results following the well-publicised problems with the administration of the tests by the Government's contractors.

"But we're pleased to see more pupils achieving across the subjects at level four."

This year's results show the percentage of persistent absence in each school.

Also included for the first time is the total percentage of sessions lost at schools through authorised and unauthorised absence.

Previously, these two figures have been shown separately but, by combining them, it is easier to see the overall absence and weigh it against a school's results.