Secondary schools in Gravesham have received praise from the county council after the average GCSE improvement reported was 11%.

For students gaining five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths, every Gravesham secondary school reported percentages above the government’s target of 40%.

It was reported at a KCC members education briefing on Gravesham schools, which also revealed that Ofsted ratings have continued to rise.

At the start of the year, only three of the eight schools were judged by Ofsted to be ‘good’.

By the end of the year, Mayfield Grammar School became the first Gravesham secondary school to be judged ‘outstanding’.

It was the first inspection the Pelham Road school has had since it became an Academy in February last year.

Three more schools gained a ‘good’ judgement with two more – Meopham and St John’s – recognised as improving.

This means that three quarters of the schools in Gravesham – Northfleet tech and Northfleet girls, Saint George’s, Thamesview, Gravesend grammar and Mayfield – have been judged good or better by Ofsted.

Gravesham county councillor Bryan Sweetland said: “I am delighted that schools in Gravesham are performing so well and I would like to offer my congratulations to all the students and teachers.

“When the GCSE results are finally validated in January, Gravesham’s senior schools are likely to be among the very best preforming schools in Kent”.