SCHOOL league tables based on tests taken by 14-year-olds have shown mixed results across the county following two years of improvement.

The Government's latest set of tables are based on Key Stage Three tests taken by secondary school pupils last year in the core subjects of English, maths and science.

They show that across the county's 102 secondary schools, Kent's performance went up slightly in English, dipped marginally below last year's average in maths and stayed the same in science.

In all three subjects, Kent was slightly below the national average for the number of pupils achieving the Government's expected level.

At the same time, three schools were identified as among the most-improved in the country based on their results between 2004 and 2007. These were Cheyne Middle School in Sheppey; Minster College, also in Sheppey and The Towers School in Ashford.

In English, 73 per cent of students in Kent achieved the nationally-expected Level Five, a one per cent improvement on last year.

In Maths, 74 per cent achieved Level Five, compared with 76 per cent the year before. The national average was 76 per cent.

In science, 72 per cent of pupils in Kent reached the expected level, the same as the previous year. The national average was 73 per cent.

Kent’s average point score, calculated by taking into account factors like the number of pupils taking the tests, was 219, compared with 223 nationally.

The Government's tables include a "value added" score, designed to reflect the progress that pupils have made between taking tests at the age of 11 in primary school - the Key Stage Two tests - and at the age of 14, published here.

Schools are judged to be adding value if their scores are above the aggregate 100 and considered less effective in adding value if their scores are below that figure.

Of the 102 schools listed, 32 scored less than 100, including a clutch of grammar schools.

Cllr Chris Wells (Con) KCC cabinet member for education, said: "The trend over the last five years or so has been one of improved educational achievements across the county as a whole and across all levels.

"There are bound to be dips in some years because of different cohorts of pupils but the general trend in Kent is one of improvement."

Local league tables in the Kent Messenger, Medway Messenger and Kentish Gazette this week. Other KMG papers next week.