A Sittingbourne school has been named as one of the most improved in the country.

Canterbury Road Primary School is one of six in Kent topping the list in this year’s Key Stage 2 tests, known as SATs, taken by 10 and 11 year olds.

Twenty nine pupils at the school sat the tests in June, with 93 per cent achieving Level Four or above in both English and maths – a rise of 33 per cent over 2008. The national average was 73 per cent.

The percentage of pupils at the school reaching Level Four in English was 93 per cent and in maths the figure was 97 per cent.

In Sittingbourne, only St Peter’s RC Primary in West Ridge did better in English with 97 per cent.

The results published this week by the Department of Education show mixed fortunes for schools across Sittingbourne.

Pupils at Lynsted and Norton Primary School, Lynsted, came in behind Canterbury Road in the numbers achieving Level Four in both maths and English with 85 per cent.

At the other end of the table, Milton Court had the worst results with 33 per cent.

In total, five Sittingbourne primaries out of 18 (five boycotted the tests) failed to reach the government’s new tougher target for 60 per cent of all pupils to reach Level Four in English and maths combined.

No results were recorded at Holywell, Lower Halstow, Murston, Regis Manor and South Avenue because of the boycott by teaching unions.

The results for Sittingbourne pupils reaching the higher Level Five standard in the two subjects put St Peter’s top in English with 52 per cent and Canterbury Road top in maths with 60 per cent.

Canterbury Road Primary School’s head teacher Zoe King said she was "very proud" of both her pupils and staff.

"I am absolutely delighted that their hard work has been reflected in these results," she said.

The SATs tables no longer include the performance of pupils in science at Level 4 and Level 5. However, the tables now also include teacher assessment data, indicating the number of pupils who have been assessed as being at Level 4 in English, maths and science.

Across Kent classroom standards have shown some improvements this year, but remain behind the national average.

The number of pupils achieving Level Four in both maths and English rose to 70 per cent from 68 per cent in 2009. The percentage of pupils reaching Level Four in English remained static at 78 per cent, below the national average of 80 per cent, while in maths, 77 per cent of children reached Level Four compared to 75 per cent the previous year, slightly below the national average of 79 per cent.

The results come as Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, told Kent that more needed to be done to raise primary standards. In a formal assessment, inspectors said raising performance at primary schools should be a priority.

Kent County Council cabinet member for children, families and education Cllr Sarah Hohler said: "I am pleased the results for level 4+ English and mathematics combined are up by two per cent.

"However, I want to see those figures improve in the coming years.

"There will continue to be intensive support for those schools below the target and partnerships between schools to help raise attainment."