Sandwell LEA drops in tables

Sandwell was the only Black Country authority to drop down today's primary school league tables.

The borough fell from 134 to 140 in the list of the country's 150 Local Education Authorities (LEAs).

Wolverhampton rose from 130 to 122, Walsall from 105 to 94 and Dudley from 101 to 66.

Staffordshire maintained its position at 51. And Shropshire was ranked 39th in the national list, which is based on the performance of Year 6 pupils in the English, maths and science Sats tests.

Shropshire climbed from 46 to 39 and Birmingham from 131 to 123. Worcestershire fell from 91 to 99.

Smethwick's Victoria Park Primary was named as one of the worst 200 schools in the country based on the results of its youngsters in the three core subjects. Sandwell is also home to some of the country's worst schools for persistent absence – Burnt Tree Primary in Oldbury and Hateley Heath and Ryders Green Primaries in West Bromwich.

But there were some success stories in the borough. Summerhill Primary, in Tipton, and Harvills Hawthorn and Hargate Primaries in West Bromwich were named among the country's most-improving schools.

See how your child's school performed in Wednesday's Express & Star.