IT was ice-creams all round at a York primary school that has seen its SATS results shoot up this year.

Last year, Burton Green Primary School in Clifton saw just 29 per cent of the school’s pupils achieved a pass mark in all three of their reading, writing and maths SATs scores at the end of KS2. This year, the school has more than doubled that result, with 70 per cent of the Year 6 children achieving the pass mark, surpassing the national average combined measure of 64 per cent.

Meanwhile 85 per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, with 75 per cent in maths and 80 per cent in writing, putting the school in the position of the most improved for reading and maths in the City of York.

Burton Green’s interim head teacher, Kelsey Clark-Davies, said: “We are incredibly proud of all we have achieved this year at Burton Green and our KS2 SATs results are just the icing on the cake. We have fantastic staff, parents and pupils here, who all go the extra mile, and work really hard, but with loads of fun and laughter along the way - the credit is all theirs.”

The school had previously been judged by the DfE as ‘coasting’ and the school has worked hard this year to improve in a number of areas. Primarily the focus has been on improving behaviour and wellbeing and creating a more positive ethos and culture throughout the school.

Staff reviewed the school’s behaviour policy, along with parents and pupils, creating a new approach called ‘Going for Gold’ which focuses on pupils who consistently do the right thing. In addition, the school has implemented a range of initiatives around relationships and kindness and has worked to improve attendance. There has also been a strong focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, with a real investment in staff support and development. Significant progress is now evident in pupils’ books as well as in test outcomes.

Burton Green is part of the Hope Learning Trust, York, a growing multi-academy trust for primary and secondary schools in York and the wider region. Hope’s CEO, Brian Crosby said: “The team at Burton Green and the Year 6 pupils absolutely deserve this fantastic news. Kelsey and her colleagues have worked incredibly hard to give the children and their families the best opportunities possible to achieve their potential and succeed, and the results speak for themselves. With the support of the Trust, Burton Green really is going from strength to strength and has a great future ahead. A huge well done to everyone!”

Hope Learning Trust, York now has six partner schools including: Manor CE Academy, Vale of York Academy, Barlby High School and Poppleton Ousebank Primary, Burton Green Primary and Forest of Galtres Anglican Methodist Primary, with Baldersby St James Primary joining in September and taking the total to seven. The Trust is also currently supporting two secondary schools in Scarborough, George Pindar and Graham School.