A TEACHING union has dismissed the validity of this year’s Key Stage Two results – because 21 per cent of the county’s primary schools boycotted the exams.

The results – published by the Department for Education yesterday – showed primary schools in Oxfordshire performed similarly in this year’s exams as they did in 2009.

However, critics said the results were not a true indicator of pupils’ achievement, as about 1,400 fewer children in the county took the exams than last year.

In Oxfordshire, 81 per cent of pupils achieved Level Four in English and 81 per cent in maths.

Last year, 81 per cent of pupils achieved Level Four in English, 79 per cent in maths and 88 per cent in science, which was not examined this year.

Nationally, 80 per cent of 11-year-olds reached the benchmark in English and 80 per cent in maths.

Key Stage Two exams are used to assess progress, rank different schools and to give secondary schools an indication of a pupil’s ability.

All students are expected to have reached Level Four by the time they leave primary school.

But this year only 4,982 Year Six pupils took the tests in English, reading, writing and maths, compared to 6,307 last year.

Forty schools out of the 232 in the county chose not to put their pupils forward for the exams after a nationwide boycott by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Headteachers, both of which said the tests did not give an accurate indication of a pupil’s performance.

Last night, Oxfordshire NUT spokesman Gawain Little said: “When 30 per cent of schools across the country don’t take the exams, there is a big issue with their validity.

“The effort that the students and teachers have put into the tests has to be recognised and we congratulate them for all their hard work.

“It is just such a shame that because the Government refused to listen, we have ended up with a situation where the results aren’t that useful.”

In Oxfordshire, 75 per cent of children tested achieved Level Four in English and maths combined, a two per cent increase on last year.

Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “Clearly, it is difficult to compare the countywide results with those last year due to the boycott, but we are very pleased with a two per cent increase on those who took the test.

“There have been some excellent results and real successes in many schools following support and close partnership working between the county council and the schools.”

Among the success stories was Rose Hill Primary School.

Two years ago, 22 per cent of students reached Level Four in English and maths combined. Last year this rose to 48 per cent, but this year 76 per cent achieved Level Four.