FOUR years ago Hill Top Primary School in Doncaster came out of special measures as Government inspectors decided it was no longer a failing school.
Since then the school, which serves one of the most deprived areas of the town, has gone from strength to strength. Today it was named as the eighth best school in the country for delivering improved curriculum test results by its 11-year-olds year-o
n-year since 2004.
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The school's English, maths and science key stage two scores have consistently risen for the past four years.
Headteacher Beryce Nixon said: "We are delighted. It has been four years of hard work by a very dedicated team of staff, governors and parents to improve our school.
"We have developed a very innovative curriculum focused on key skills and giving outside experiences to the children."
Mrs Nixon said extended school activities such as going on residential trips and encouraging children to perform musical instruments raised pupils' confidence and self esteem making them more effective learners.
She added: "Rather than just looking at the school's basic skills we have opened up the curriculum. The children are now much more motivated and much more ready to learn."
Hill Top Primary School was the best in the region at delivering consistently improved scores in key stage two test results but several other Yorkshire schools were named among the nation's top 200.
The top performers included Atlas Primary School in Bradford, which was Yorkshire's second best, followed by Menston Primary School near Ilkley, Little London Primary School in Leeds, Elsecar Holy Trinity CE Primary School in Barnsley and Pearson Primary School in Hull.
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