LEAGUE tables revealing the performance of primary school children show St George's Catholic School in Worcester is top of the tree.

An impressive 100 per cent of its oldest class of pupils reached the expected standard in English, maths and science. The Barbourne school was ranked 46th best primary in the whole country. Headteacher Joseph Baker said: "We are really pleased that we were able to let our children reach their potential.

"This gives us a pat on the back because the staff and children work hard all year round and don't always get this recognition.

"However, there are children who realise their potential in different ways and that's why we put a great deal of effort into sport, after-school clubs, music, and lots of other things."

But the news was not so good for another city school which is attempting to turn its fortunes around. Fair-field Community Primary in Brickfields opened last year to replace Elbury Mount, as part of the Government's Fresh Start initiative to revitalise failing schools.

But it was revealed today that it finished bottom of the Worcestershire league table. Headteacher Alex Wall said the bald figures did not show the whole story. He said: "We've always aimed to be at least in line with national expectations in two years' time and we want to be a centre of excellence. These figures help to clarify the degree of progress we have already made and the progress we still have to make. What I'd hate for people to think is the school is failing."

Mr Wall said the school needed to improve standards in writing significantly but other targets were being met, particularly when 'value-added' scores - comparing the individual progress of pupils - were taken into account.

The table also details truancy figures. Oldbury Park Primary, in St John's, Worcester, was one of the best. Headteacher Jacq-ueline Ludlow said: "It's down to the relationship between the school and the parents, who realise the importance of getting their children to school."

Across Worcestershire, the average points score is 242, two points above the national average.

As a local authority, Worcestershire finished 67th out of 150. Gloucest-ershire was eighth and Herefordshire and Here-fordshire came 56th.

CREAM OF THE CROP

l In England's top 200: St George's RC Worcester; Pembridge CE Primary School in Leominster; Eldersfield Lawn CE, south of Upton; St Gabriel's with St Mary's in Hanley Swan; Eastnor Parochial Primary in Ledbury; and St James' CE, Malvern.

l The Government also produced figures showing which schools had children achieving level five - one above the expected level.

l In this category St James' CE Primary, Malvern, came third in England. Worcester's St George's RC and Eldersfield Lawn CE again made it into the top 200.

l This year the league tables showed schools' "value-added" scores which show the improvement of pupils compared with an average at key stage one.

l Appearing in the country's top five per cent: Hanley Swan St Gabriel's with St Mary's; Bayton CE, Kidderminster; St James' CE, Malvern; Eldersfield Lawn.

l In the country's bottom five per cent: Madresfield CE Primary, Malvern, which came sixth bottom; Brockhampton, near Evesham; and Lickhill Middle in Stourport.

Schools set for merger in face of opposition

TWO Worcester schools will be merged into one primary school after councillors brushed aside community opposition and agreed the controversial move.

Warndon Infants' and Warndon Junior schools will, from September 2006, become a 420-place 'all-through' primary, with a nursery department, under one headteacher and staff.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet supported the move at a meeting yesterday, despite criticism from infant school governors and parents. Margaret Probett, Warndon Infants' School's headteacher, who is retiring, branded the process an "absolute farce", while county councillor John Buckley said many in Warndon felt the merger had been a "'done deal".

However, cabinet member for Children's Services, Liz Eyre, said she felt the move would benefit pupils.

The infants' school chairman of governors, David Hands, said it would continue to fight the merger. He said: "we believe passionately in remaining separate."