Teachers and pupils at a West Norfolk school were celebrating yesterday after the government's latest league tables revealed the school was one of the best in country.

Denver Primary School, based near Downham Market, was ranked 157th in terms of the average achievements of 11-year-olds in maths and English tests.

The school, which has 100 pupils, was also celebrating the news that 100pc of its students hit the level 4 target in the Key Stage 2 tests.

Headteacher Linda Allison told the EDP she was 'extremely delighted' with her school's achievements and comfortable placing in the country's top 200 primary schools.

Asked why her school out-performed other schools in Norfolk, she said: 'I think there are several reasons.

'Clearly we have very good teaching here and we track the progress of children very closely so we can intervene if we need to.

'We have high expectations at the school and have the support of parents who support their children with their homework which makes a big difference.'

She continued: 'The children stay with teachers for two years so the teachers get to know them as individuals as well as learning exactly where they are performing and where they are struggling.

'We also have mixed age groups. I have heard some query about whether this works, but in my experience it does because we have had consistently good results for several years.'

Last night South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss praised the primary school.

She said: 'I congratulate Denver Primary School on their excellent performance in English and maths at Key Stage 2.'