CHILDREN in Bury are getting a good grounding in the 3Rs.

Results in the key stage one national curriculum tests showed the borough’s year two pupils — aged six and seven — outperformed their counterparts living elsewhere in the country.

The tables released by the department for children, schools and families on Tuesday showed that a total of 87 per cent of children achieved the required grade in reading.

In writing the pass rate stood at 81 per cent, in maths the figure was 92 and in science 91 per cent of children achieved the benchmark standard.

Girls outperformed boys in every subject, with the biggest gap being most notable in the arts subjects.

Nationally the pass rate was 84 per cent: 81 per cent for reading and writing, and 89 per cent for maths and science.

Cllr Diana Ashworth, executive member for children and young people, said: “Everyone knows that Bury schools are excellent, and these results show that our primary school pupils are getting off to a flying start in their education.

“We hope they will take these achievements and build on them as they move through their years at school.”