A village primary school in West Devon has been celebrating its remarkable turnaround in fortunes after being ranked as one of the top schools in Devon in the latest set of national curriculum tests. Halwill Primary School was also among the most improved schools in the country in the results published last week by the Department for Education and Skills. Pupils scored the maximum possible score in the three core subjects of English, maths and science, which are assessed at Key Stage 2 ? the final year of primary school, when pupils are aged 10 and 11. Headteacher David Jones said: ?It?s a phenomenal achievement. Not just statistically with 100 per cent in each subject, but on the new ?value added? measure, we scored 104, which takes into account the progress children have made from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2.? Mr Jones said he was ?extremely proud? to have received a letter from David Miliband, School Standards Minister, congratulating the school on being among the top 100 improving schools in the country. The progress the school has made since Mr Jones took over as head two and a half years ago has been remarkable. An Ofsted report in 2001 said the school had ?serious weaknesses? to address. Mr Jones said: ?It is a fantastic achievement and credit must go to the teachers and teaching assistants and to the community for its support. It is a very happy school and that is an atmosphere in which children can learn.? It is an exciting time for the school at present, with plans to move from the existing Victorian schoolhouse to a purpose-built new facility at Halwill Junction, gradually moving forward. Mr Jones said: ?If we get this new school, we are looking at a fantastic situation for the community of Halwill and beyond. We want to take this good practice further and share it with other schools and be a beacon school in the area.? Mr Jones said the pupils? achievements were all the more impressive because they were learning in a deteriorating Victorian school building which was not well equipped for 21st century teaching. ?We are battling against the odds,? he said, ?the present accommodation is grossly inadequate.? Halwill Primary also recently took part in a DfES scheme in which the children learned all about Japan, culminating in a visit from representatives from the Japanese Embassy. Mr Jones said a mixture of factors helped to explain the school?s success: ?We have a fabulous team who have a very good relationship with the children and quality teaching and community support as well. I am privileged to be working with people like that.?