PONTELAND Middle School has been placed 25th in a Sunday Times ranking of the top 250 state primary school’s in England.

The list, compiled by Professor Alan Smithers, Director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, required schools to deliver a minimum aggregate score of 329 points across reading, grammar and maths, based on the 2017 Sats outcomes.

Ponteland Middle School attained an aggregate score of 337, and its high placing was particularly significant considering its pupil population and being the only school in Northumberland to make the list.

Headteacher, Dr Caroline Pryer, praised the school’s staff and pupils after the high-placed ranking.

She said: “The key to success is the quality of learning at the school and the rigorous planning and preparation from staff.

“We increasingly monitor pupils’ progress to enable an early identification and intervention process.”

Proposals to introduce a two-tier system to the Ponteland area shook the community and sparked outrage among parents.

The top-performing school, twice rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted was saved from closure after it was granted permission to convert to an academy in April 2016.

“The ethos of the school is one where the children are at the heart,” Dr Pryer said.