STANDARDS in the county’s 475 primary schools have fallen back slightly for the second successive year.

The dip in results for the Key Stage 2 tests, taken by 11-year-olds in maths, English and science, is small but in all three subjects Kent was below the national average.

In English, 72.7 per cent of pupils achieved the nationally expected level compared with 72.8per cent last year.

In maths, 69.6 per cent of pupils achieved the nationally expected level compared with 70.6 per cent last year.

There were better results in science, where 84.6 per cent of pupils achieved the expected national level – compared with 83.7 per cent last year.

For the first time, the tables include the number of children doing better than the national average, recorded as the percentage of pupils achieving level five.

In all three subjects, Kent was below the national average. In English, 25.5 per cent reached level five, compared to 27 per cent nationally.

In maths, the figure was 28.5 per cent, compared with 29 per cent nationally and in science, the percentage reaching level five was 36.7 per cent compared with 41 per cent nationally.

The tables also give an indication of whether schools are “adding value” by comparing pupils’ progress from the time they took tests at seven (Key Stage 1) to Key Stage 2.

The county “added value” measure was 99.7 per cent, placing Kent in middle 20 per cent of schools nationally.

Cllr Paul Carter, KCC's cabinet member for education, said he was disappointed that standards at the county’s primary schools appeared to be falling behind other authorities.

“My message is that we have to do better. We have been flat-lining for several years and we do need to see improvements next year."

He added: "I believe we are introducing the right initiatives, such as encouraging schools to collaborate and our scheme for clusters of schools, that will help but we must do better against the national picture."

FOR THE FULL DATA FOR ALL THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KENT GO TO OUR EDUCATION SECTION