TOP class pupils have helped put South Cheshire primary schools on the map for high standards.

Thousands of primary school classmates excelled at their Standard Assessment Tests (SATS), achieving above-average results in the core subjects of English, maths and science.

Their performance has been recorded in Government league tables based on how many 11-year-olds reached the national standard Level Four in the Key Stage Two tests taken by pupils in Year Six.

Controversy has always surrounded SATs which many education specialists and parents believe places too much pressure on children at a time when their concentration and confidence in the exam room is not fully developed.

Some also argue tables do not give a true reflection of a school's teaching standards. In areas where fewer children come from educated homes, classroom performance is, they say, understandably, less impressive.

This year the Government's mass of data on primary school performance has also recorded how many children do even better achieving Level Five at SATs.

In South Cheshire, an impressive number of pupils carried home school reports recording a mix of Level Four, Five and Six results, placing them among the country's top high fliers.

Best of the bunch for the second year running was Smallwood Primary School where all eligible pupils reached Level Four in all three subjects.

Conscientious pupils at Highfields Community Primary School, Alsager came second with 100% for maths and science and 98% English.

Sound Primary School faired well, with 100% at English and science and 88% at maths.

Cheshire education chiefs say the county's 8,500 primary and junior school children should be proud of their achievements.

They have again placed the county well above the national average when it came to attaining Level Four standard.

Education executive member David Rowlands said: 'A total of 31% achieved the higher level at English, 33% at maths and 45% at science.

'This compares with national averages of 27%, 29% and 41% respectively.

'It is a tremendous tribute to the hard work and dedication of pupils and teachers.'