NEW data from the Department of Education has been released which shows the best and worst performing primary schools across Essex.

The figures were released this morning and rank schools based on multiple factors including average progress scores for reading, writing and maths as well as the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard.

The league tables are a popular tool used by parents to help them choose the best school for their child and they are compiled using student data from their end of primary national curriculum tests, known as Sats.

This year was the third time children sat the government's tougher tests, introduced in 2016.

The tables give an indication of how each school is performing in results and pupil progress but there is also a huge amount of data available on a national level.

Below are the top ten performing schools from across Southend, Basildon and Castle Point based on the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard:

Kingston School (Thundersley) - 100 per cent

The Robert Drake Primary School (Benfleet) - 93 per cent

Canvey Junior School (Canvey) - 90 per cent

Hinguar Community Primary School (Shoebury) - 90 per cent

Holy Family Catholic Primary School (Benfleet) - 90 per cent

St Helen's Catholic Primary School (Westcliff) - 90 per cent

Quilters Junior School (Billericay) - 89 per cent

The Phoenix Primary School (Basildon) - 89 per cent

Noak Bridge Primary School (Basildon) - 87 per cent

St George's Catholic Primary School (Shoebury) - 87 per cent

Bournes Green Junior School (Thorpe Bay) - 86 per cent

(Where percentages are the same, schools were also ranked on their average reading, writing and maths scores)

Below are the worst performing schools from across Southend, Basildon and Castle Point based on the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standards:

North Crescent Primary School (Wickford) - 25 per cent

Waterman Primary School (Rochford) - 30 per cent

Winter Gardens Academy (Canvey) - 33 per cent

Vange Primary School (Basildon) - 36 per cent

Montgomerie Primary School (Benfleet) - 46 per cent

Hadleigh Junior School (Hadleigh) - 46 per cent

Hilltop Junior School (Wickford) - 49 per cent

St Mary's, Prittlewell (Southend) - 56 per cent

Eastwood Primary School (Southend) - 58 per cent

Westborough Academy (Westcliff) - 59 per cent

(Where percentages are the same, schools were also ranked on their average reading writing and maths scores)

Pick up tomorrow's Echo for full details and reaction.

Parents can find out where their child's school ranked in the league tables by visiting: www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/