COUNTY education chiefs are hailing what they claim are some of the best-ever results produced by its primary and secondary schools.

Kent County Council says its analysis of the results of all key exams this year indicates schools are out-stripping the national rate of improvement.

The number of pupils passing five or more GCSEs at grades A to C - regarded as the key benchmark - is close to 60 per cent, 3.6 per cent up on last year. Five secondary schools saw their GCSE pass rate improve by more than 20 per cent, including Canterbury’s Montgomery School, which propped up the bottom of the national league tables last year.

KCC says that while no national comparisons are yet available, the early indications are that its 600-plus schools have "smashed through" the national trend with continuous improvements across the board.

In less than five years, the number of schools achieving less that 30 per cent GCSE passes at grades A* to C has more than halved.

The remaining 12 schools in this category are showing they, too, are turning their fortunes around, according to the council.

Meanwhile, A level results also improved. Of the 450 top-performing nationally, 30 were in Kent.

KCC cabinet member for education Cllr Paul Carter said: "These results are truly outstanding and a testament to the dedication of our headteachers, teachers and governors who strive to give their pupils the very best start in life.

"In 1997, 47.4 per cent of students were achieving five or more GCSE passes at grades A*to C and today we celebrate almost 60 per cent. We do not take this success for granted and will continue to push for even greater leaps forward."

He rejected the suggestion that improvements in pass rates were being articifically inflated by pupils choosing less academically-testing subjects.

* The five schools that improved their GCSE results at five grades A to C by more than 20 per cent were: The Montgomery School, Canterbury (rising from four per cent to 27 per cent); Brockhill Park in Folkestone (29 per cent to 57.8 per cent); Thamesview School in Gravesend (22 per cent to 42.4 per cent); Castle Community College, Deal (36 per cent to 57 per cent); Archers Court School in Dover (12 per cent to 32 per cent).