HEAD teachers at two of the region's top-performing primary schools today questioned whether national test results could go on improving.

The Government hailed today's results for 11-year-olds as evidence of improvement over the last three years, although the numbers reaching the desired level in English has levelled off and those achieving the maths target are down by one per cent.

Schools Minister Cathy Ashton said there was room for improvement. The literacy and numeracy strategies had been crucial in boosting performance.

Appleton Roebuck Primary School in North Yorkshire and Naburn CE Primary School near York, both small village schools, saw all their 11-year-olds reaching targets in English, maths and science.

Derek Angood, head at Appleton Roebuck, said: "We had an extremely able group of children this year. Yes, we worked hard, and we moved them forward. But it isn't just the school that makes the results. It's a combination of the school's teaching and what goes into it, the abilities and attitude of the children and the support that parents give to them.

"We're working just as hard this year and we will work just as hard next year but the results won't always be 100 per cent.

"The publication of the tables can boost a school like ours on occasions, but can demoralise other schools."

Verna Campbell, head at Naburn, said they had never gone along with the Government's literacy hour.

"We think creative arts, like art, dancing and music, are as important as other things. It is that which helps to raise standards rather than concentrating on the "three Rs"."

She said that success also depended on the group of children and the particular tests they sat, and said she disagreed with the publication of the tables.

"It is so unfortunate for colleagues that work in difficult schools in difficult conditions.

"I think they have a tough time anyway - it looks as though they're not doing well when they're working as hard as anybody else."

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, December 05, 2001