ALVECHURCH and Ridgeway Middle Schools were top of the primary school league tables in Redditch, according to the latest Government statistics.

The figures were announced on Friday, revealing Alvechurch Middle had a total aggregate score of 263, with Ridgeway slightly ahead on 264.

Alvechurch headteacher Karen Jordan said: "We are absolutely delighted with our results, especially in maths and science.

''But we are very conscious it is the whole curriculum which is important, not just the three core subjects we are tested on.

''We aim to produce well balanced children who will progress through the school."

The Government set certain standards for the primary Key Stage 2 exams, which were 79 per cent for English, 75 per cent for maths and 86 per cent for science.

Ridgeway and Alvechurch were among those which exceeded expectations.

Some schools, however, fell behind.

Dingleside Middle School, with an English score of 38, came in the bottom five in the county for results and truancy levels.

Headteacher Paul Lifford said: "These league tables mean nothing if the value added performance is not taken into consideration.

''Literacy skills are fairly low in the school but we have improved the children's progress quite considerably.

''Of course, we want to do better and we have high quality staff in order to do that."

Worcestershire's primary schools overall out-stripped their counterparts across the rest of the country for the first time, according to the Department for Education and Skills tables.

The combined percentage point score in Keystage 2 for those schools maintained by the county council this year is 242 - two points above the national average.

Worcestershire's schools have pushed this figure up from 232 in 2002, while nationally this has increased by just six.

County pupils have bettered their UK counterparts in science, with 88 per cent making the grade compared to 86 per cent nationally.

English was the same with 79 per cent in both Worcestershire and nationally, while maths was marginally behind with 74 in Worcestershire compared to a national average of 75.

Richard Hubbard, director of children's services, said: "These tables present a very positive picture of attainment and improvement in Worcestershire primary and middle schools.

''Improvement is at well over the national rate, with overall performance above the national average for the first time.

"Teachers, pupils and everyone supporting provision in Worcestershire schools have worked very hard to secure this improvement and deserve every congratulations."

Councillor Liz Eyre, Cabinet member for children's services, said: "Getting it right at this age is so important for a child's life chances.

''I am delighted at this news and thank not only the heads, staff and parents but also the hard-working governing bodies which support these schools."

A full list of the primary school league tables is available at the DfES website www.dfes.gov.uk