THE teaching of science in some Vale Schools is excellent, according to the primary school performance tables announced by the Government yesterday.

One school - St Mary's Catholic Primary in Evesham - marked up a 100% result on the subject.

Of the other six schools with children between ten and 11 taking the tests, half were well above average in science. Maths and English fared slightly less outstandingly, with most schools around the average mark.

Headteacher at St Mary's in Evesham, Brian McSharry, said: "We are very pleased with our results, which reflects the level of achievement that is taking place at St Mary's. We are maintaining standards all the time." St Mary's' results in maths and English were also well above average."

The headteacher at Blackminster Middle School, Terry Holland, said: "I am pleased with our results, which have improved every year since 1998." While his school achieved well above average scores in maths and science, English was slightly below average. He added: "We had a problem with our English results due to poor marking. We sent 16 sample papers back for re-marking and they were all upgraded."

The average point scores per subject in all schools, however, were roughly average or well above, ranging from 26.4 to 28.7, compared to a county average of 26.8 and a national average of 27.3.

County-wide, 66% of 11-year-olds have achieved the level expected of a typical 11-year-old by the national curriculum in maths, 74% in English and 85% in science.

Clive Wilkinson, Worcestershire County Councils' head of quality said: "Worcestershire is often regarded as an average LEA and our pattern of achievement this year reflects the national trend at Key Stage 2 almost exactly.

"We are working hard to move Worcestershire schools beyond average and to raise levels of pupil achievement."