Leyland school's standards are among the best in Lancashire

The town’s Moss Side Primary has set a new record by becoming the first in Lancashire and only the seventh nationally, to receive the coveted Basic Standards Quality Award for the seventh time.

The Paradise Lane school was the first in the county to be awarded the quality assurance award 21 years ago.

Headteacher Janis Burdin was at the helm when the school, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, received it’s first Basic Skills award and still holds the reins.

She said: “The award only lasts for three years so you have to get it renewed.

“This is our seventh time so is recognition over 21 years that our basic skills are very good. We believe that basic skills, i.e. reading and writing, are very important and their is no denying it.”

Mrs Burdin said staff worked hard to ensure that pupils of all abilities are equipped with essential skills from an early age so they are able to cope with the demands of secondary school.

She added: “When we got the award we were the first in Lancashire and have maintained our standards by being the only one to get it repeatedly seven times.

“So, were are absolutely delighted to learn that we are only the seventh in the country to have had it renewed so many times.

“We have a very mixed catchment area and a lot of children don’t have a rich vocabulary.”

However, latest data shows that every pupil improved by two or more levels in reading, writing and mathematics, between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Staff organise a wide range of ways to make basics skills fun and recently held a sponsored number event as part of maths week and besides learning a lot of maths facts, they also raised £2184.64 for school funds.

The money will be used to buy a set of new curriculum maths books for all the junior classes, plus maths games for all the infant classes.