PUPILS at Oak View Academy are progressing faster than at any other primary school in Cheshire.

That is according to the Government’s Primary Schools Performance Tables which were released last week and show the Winsford school is driving forward standards of reading, writing and maths at a trail-blazing pace.

In the three key subjects progress is ‘well above average’ on a national scale, and it is the best in the entire county.

The data is based on the latest SATS results, and represent another impressive chapter in the once-failing school’s story.

The results showed that 63 per cent of pupils achieved the ‘expected standard’, which beat the average for Cheshire West and Chester Schools of 59 per cent.

But the best result for the school was in the pupils’ reading and writing progress. Oak View came at the top of the table out of all the schools in the Cheshire West and Chester Council boundary for progress in reading and third for progress in writing.

Headteacher Fiona Rimmer said: “We are really proud of our results, which reflect the hard work that has taken place over the last three years since we became Oak View Academy.

“We aim to ensure that the children are ‘high school ready’ so that they can fulfil their potential in the future.

“The school is unrecognisable from what it was, and I’m very proud of our children and staff, and the hard work they put in each and every day.

“But we are not only focused on results. By approaching learning holistically, we see children flourish in confidence and ability across all areas and, ultimately, improve their life chances in the future.”

Just three years ago, then called Greenfields, the school was ranked second worst primary in the country. It was placed in ‘special measures’ and closure was a genuine threat.

But since becoming part of the North West Academies Trust (NWAT) in 2014, it has made remarkable strides since.

Through sharing resources and experience with other NWAT schools – including Delamere Academy near Northwich, which is ranked second best overall in Cheshire – Oak View has gone from strength to strength.

Backed by a bursary fund from the Timpson Foundation, the school was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted earlier this year.

Steve Docking, CEO of NWAT and headteacher at Delamere, said: “We are always confident that our ambition and determination to provide the best possible education for our pupils will get results, but it is a pleasure to get confirmation.

“At primary level our Trust is performing better than the Harris Federation – one of the Government’s favourites which claims to be the highest performing Trust in the country.

“We’re very proud of everybody involved – it takes a lot of hard work which starts with the trustees, is led by our dedicated teachers and staff, and is embraced by our children and their parents.

“Without the commitment and vision of them all, this kind of achievement would not be possible. So I’d like to thank them – and warn them we won’t be resting on our laurels!

“Our mission to deliver new and exciting ways to enhance the learning experience at our schools will continue.”