Primary schools across Braintree and Witham are celebrating after their astounding results for key stage two SATs. 

Out of 31 schools in Braintree, Witham and Dunmow, 21 exceeded the national average of 61 per cent of pupils reaching the expected level for reading, writing and maths.

Holy Family Primary School, in Witham, achieved an astounding result with 96 per cent reaching expected levels and is ranked second best in the county.

Chipping Hill Primary School was a close second in the town with 93 per cent.

Headteacher Ceri Jones said: “I’m very very proud of all the hard work children put in, they really got what they deserved.

“I would like to say thank you to all the staff who do a fantastic job every day.”

The performance tables use data from key stage two SAT results, which this year show 63 per cent of the county’s Year 6 pupils achieved at least the expected standard in the combined reading, writing and maths measure.

A total of 78 per cent achieved at least the expected standard in writing in 2017, which is above the national average of 77 per cent.

In maths, 77 per cent achieved the expected standard, compared with 75 per cent nationally.

In reading, 74 per cent reached at least the expected standard, also higher than the England average of 72 per cent.

St Francis School achieved the lowest rating in Braintree town, equivalent to the third lowest district-wide.

Headteacher Vicky Jackson explained this was due to a high number of pupils with special educational needs in Year 6.

She said: “We had a high percentage of children with special needs in that particular group, which was ten out of 25 children.

“It’s a particular group with identified special needs and we wanted to support them as individuals.

“They made progress where they needed to and we were pleased with those children, as much as other children.

“It does impact our results overall because that’s 40 per cent of children with additional needs who had been with us throughout their seven years.”

All of the Essex figures are up compared with 2016.