PRIMARY Schools are on the up in key subjects according to the latest exam results.

The Department of Education has revealed how schools across the country fared in the summer’s Key Stage 2 Sats exams.

Pupils aged ten and 11 are expected to achieve Level 4 in the annual national curriculum tests for reading, writing and maths.

National figures showed the average percentage of pupils attaining Level 4 in reading, writing and maths, was up from 75 per cent last year to 79 per cent this year.

Figures for primary schools in Southend, Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point areas show that 58 of the 114 institutions are above the national average.

St Joseph’s Primary School, Canvey, was the top performer in south Essex, with all 30 of their Year 6 pupils attaining Level 4 in all three subjects.

Paul Collingwood, headteacher, said: “I am delighted our children performed so well in their end of year tests last summer.”

Quilters Junior School’s 62 pupils recorded the top average points score in south Essex of 31.7, with 56 per cent of them achieving Level 5 scores, just 1 per cent below the region’s top mark.

Michael Wade, headteacher of the school in Billericay, praised his pupils for their dedication to extra-curricular activities, which he said helped their academic achievement.

Mr Wade said: “We strive to get the right balance between academic and personal success within the year group.

“There is a real family atmosphere at the school as well.”

It was not all good news though, Montgomerie Primary School, Benfleet, was rated as inadequate in June 2013 inspection and just 53 per cent of itsr 19 students attained Level 4.

The school became an academy in September though, and new headteacher Anthony Cosans said the school is turning round its fortunes.

He said: “The results weren’t a surprise. I was losing sleep over them. That group of pupils had a very disrupted journey through school. They had eight or nine teachers throughout their four years of Key Stage 2.

“Our predicted results for next year are looking much better though. Around 80 per cent for each subject are predicted Level 4 or higher.”