HAMPSHIRE primary schools are amongst the very best in the country according to new performance tables.

The tables, released by the government today, show four of the county's schools are ranked with the top 200 in England.

As a local education authority, Hampshire took a small step forward, but both Southampton and the Isle of Wight fell back on last year's results.

Controversial Standard Assessment Tests taken by youngsters form the basis of the tables, which measure how many managed the government benchmark of level four in English, maths and science.

The tables also record which schools were successful in getting children to level five, one step ahead of the government's recommended level.

Compton All Saints Primary, near Winchester, was the only school in the region to feature in the top 200 in the country for both measures.

This year, for the first time, the tests take into account the so-called Value Added factor, a measure which charts the progress youngsters make after starting at a school. Many education professionals say this is the best judge of a school's performance and Fareham's Crofton Hammond Junior was ranked 22 in the country on that measure.

Continued year-on-year development by Curdridge Primary, near Fareham, was also highlighted by the tables, which placed the village school at 77th in the country for sustained improvement.

Southampton's Mason Moor Primary was the only one in the region to feature among the worst performing 200 schools. There, just 19 per cent of youngsters achieved the recommended level four in maths.

New head teacher David Martindale refused to comment.

No school in Hampshire, Southampton and the Isle of Wight featured among the country's worst 200 for truants.

Top-rated St Anthony's Catholic Primary School in Titchfield Common near Fareham, together with Curdridge Primary, near Southampton, Sparsholt Primary, near Winchester and Compton Primary all achieved the maximum 100 per cent in the three subjects.

Proud Compton headmistress Geraldine Sollom, who had just 14 pupils taking the tests, said: "It's great news, these results are very exciting for us. We have high expectations of the children and so we expected high results. We're delighted because, like all small schools, we are subject to significant variations year on year."

St Anthony's head teacher Mike Cooper said: "As a school we are very pleased that our results are very good yet again. It is a testament to the hard work of staff throughout the school. It's a good reflection on their effort.

"We try to offer our children a balanced education and we hope that they are happy and enjoy their experience at St Anthony's."

Southampton's Highfield School performed better than in previous years and was the only one in the city to get on the top 200 list for youngsters achieving level five.

Acting head teacher Marilyn Smith said: "We are delighted with the achievement and it is a great achievement - all the children who did sit the tests achieved level four or above.

"It is down to the teachers and assistants who work together and are committed to the education of the children.

"We identified areas where we needed to improve and worked on them and that has proved fruitful."

Head teacher of Ropley School Clare Molyneux, which had excellent results and was ranked 12th in Hampshire, said: "It is good for the school but it is only part of what we do. We care about the whole child and their progress in all areas and not just the SATs, although we are thrilled."

Hampshire Education boss Don Allen said: "Pupils at Hampshire's schools have done very in this years Key Stage 2 tests. They, along with teachers and parents, should be immensely proud of their achievements and I congratulate them all for their hard work dedication and commitment.

"Hampshire continues overall to achieve results above those nationally, but we are still committed to improving standards and will continue to strive to improve our results year on year."

Southampton's chief inspector of schools Rosemary Tong said: "We would like to congratulate all of the children and the teachers in Southampton schools for all of their hard work. Southampton has made great strides over the past six years in closing the gap between our results and the national averages, and we are proud of this achievement.

"We are closely analysing this year's results to look at the value added achievement and working in partnership with head teachers and schools in implementing the new National Primary Strategy."

GCSE and A-level tables are expected in January next year, but later this month, for the first time the government will be publishing the results of tests taken by 14 year olds. See the Daily Echo for full coverage.

SEE PAGES 20-23 OF TODAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR THE SOUTHAMPTON AND HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAGUE TABLES.