A GOVERNMENT chief has hailed a primary school near Oswestry for being among top schools in England for a reading assessment.

Damian Hinds MP, secretary of state for education, has congratulated Selattyn C of E Primary School on its Key Stage Two reading assessments.

Mr Hinds said in a letter to headteacher Clare Morgan that the all of the school's pupils had reached or exceeded the expected standard.

"We want to equip every child with the fluency in reading necessary to prepare them for a successful secondary education and beyond, and your school has provided that to all your pupils," he added.

"Thank you for producing such high standards through your hard work and professionalism, and congratulations again to you and your staff for all you have achieved."

Tim Kirk, chairman of the board of governors, said that staff, pupils, parents and governors were all "delighted" to see the letter.

Mr Hinds' praise for the assessments, which were held in December, comes after the school was sixth in the overall Primary School SATS exam results for Shropshire last summer.