A primary school letter has gone viral after inspiring its students not to be disheartened over their Key Stage Two results.

Headteacher Rachel Tomlinson and head of year six, Amy Birkett, sent the letter to pupils at Barrowford Primary school in Lancashire saying the tests do not always assess what makes them "special and unique".

In a swipe at standardised teaching, it read: "The people who drew up the tests, do not know each of you... the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do."

The letter finishes by telling pupils to "enjoy your results" but to remember that "there are many ways of being smart".

Tomlinson admitted the letter itself was not original as she found the text online six months ago - it was previously used by an elementary school in the US - but she wanted to pass on the sentiments to her own pupils at the end of this school year.

She was "absolutely astounded" by the heartfelt reaction it has received via social media across the globe.

"Wow. There are posts all over the world about this letter!! All we did was remind our Y6 how amazing they are!!!" tweeted Barrowford school.

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But Tomlinson denied telling pupils that the tests did not matter.

"We never give pupils the message that academic attainment isn't important - what we do is celebrate that we send really independent, confident, articulate learners on to the next stage of their school career," she said.

The School's Letter in Full

Please find enclosed your end of KS2 test results. We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during this tricky week.

However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you... the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.

They do not know that many of you speak two languages. They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture.

They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day. They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.

They do not know that you have travelled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.

They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best... the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.

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