SOUTH Farnham School has been named the top state primary school in the country for a second successive year by The Sunday Times.

And Bentley Primary School was not far behind its Farnham counterpart, moving up one place in the league tables from fourth to third.

The Sunday Times' state primary school league tables are based on performance at Key stage 2, level 4 over three years from 2009 to 2011. The results were published last weekend in The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2012.

South Farnham School, now split between two sites in The Bourne and Menin Way, retained its top spot with a maximum Key stage 2, level 4 aggregate score of 300 and full marks for all its pupils in English and mathematics.

Bentley Primary School also achieved a maximum aggregate score, but finished below the Farnham school on account of having fewer pupils.

Susan Shoveller, deputy headteacher at South Farnham School, said: "We are very proud of this achievement, especially as we have such a large cohort of children. Our year six group of 136 is considered very large compared to other 'outstanding' schools and the fact we have achieved such consistent results over the years is worth acknowledgement."