CLASSROOM standards in Kent’s primary schools are showing signs of improvement but remain below the national average, Government league tables have shown.

County education chiefs say they are encouraged by the progress made at primary schools and say the rate of improvement this year in three key subjects is better than the national average.

In English, the number of 11-year-olds in Kent achieving Level Four - the nationally expected level - in Kent was up to 76 per cent, an increase more than two per cent on 2004. Nationally, the average increased rose by one per cent to 79 per cent.

In maths, 71 per cent of Kent pupils reached Level Four, compared to 69.6 per cent last year. The nation average was 75 per cent.

In science, the number of pupils achieving Level Four rose from 81.4 per cent last year to 84 per cent. There was no change nationally, with 86 per cent of pupils reaching the expected Level Four.

Cllr John Simmonds, KCC’s Conservative cabinet member for education, said: “It is very good news indeed in terms of the way we are narrowing the gap with the national averages. It is evidence that the investment we are making is beginning to pay off. We are delighted. We do still recognise that we are not yet up to the national levels but we are beginning to learn an awful lot about where investment needs to go in different areas with different needs.”

He added that Kent’s involvement with a pilot scheme run by the London Institute of Education to improve reading standards would lead to further improvements.

He was also confident that Kent’s strategy of school clusters - in which better-performing schools are encouraged to help others - would ensure standards would eventually reach and overtake the national averages.

However, opposition Labour education spokesman Cllr Roger Truelove said: “It is a concern that we are not making the progress we ought to be. I hope the investment being made in early years education will help and it might be that the 11-plus continues to divert attention away from the Key Stage Two tests.”