PRIMARY school youngsters are continuing to outperform their peers — but the rest of the country is catching up.

Four in five children are leaving primary school in Bolton being able to master the 3Rs.

But it is the first time since 2012 the pass rate has not gone up in Bolton — while attainment has continued to rise nationally.

Results of SATs exams taken by youngsters in the last year of primary school show that Bolton’s children are continuing to perform better than their peers nationally.

The department for education figures show that in Bolton 81 per cent of children reached the required level in reading, writing and mathematics — in line with last year, and just above the national average of 80 per cent.

The key stage two results place the borough in the top half of the Greater Manchester table.

Girls did better than boys, with 84 per cent doing reaching level four compared to 78 per cent of boys.

The gap widened by one percentage point this year.

The figures showed that a quarter of all children achieved the more challenging level five compared to the local and national average of 24 per cent.

Girls again outperformed boys by four percentage points.

Pupils are expected to make at least two levels of progress between key stage one and key stage two.

And in writing 96 per cent of children made the expected progress, slightly down on last year but higher than the local and national averages.

In maths 93 per cent of children — the same as last year — made the expected progress, which was higher than the national average of 90 per cent.

Cllr Kevin McKeon, Bolton Council's cabinet member for schools, said: "These are outstanding results for Bolton's pupils and a result of tremendous hard work by teachers supported by parents and governors.

"Schools are facing a lot of challenges at the moment, changes are being made to the curriculum and the accountability measures, and schools are continuing to get these good results in the face of this."

He added that primary education provided the foundations for future success.

Cllr MeKeon said: "Work done between reception and year six is the foundation for their future success.

"Success in year six will lead to success in year 11."