Nearly three-quarters of Year 6 pupils across the county achieved the nationally-recognies level in their end-of-year exams, according to the latest league tables.

The Department for Education today publishes the results of the Key Stage 2 tests, taken this summer. And the tables show that Essex is in line with the national average with 74% of pupils gaining a level four in English and maths.

Individually, the results were 81% for English and 80% maths.

Essex appears half way down the table and is nestled alongside Cambridge, Enfield, Dorset and Hounslow.

However, neighbours Suffolk and Norfolk did not fair as well - they both appear in the bottom eight authorities within the lost of all 151 local education authorities in England.

Just 69% of pupils in Suffolk gained a level four or above in their Key Stage 2 tests for English and maths.

The lowest ranking local authority is the Isle of Wight where 62% of pupils gained Level 4 in English and maths.

Pupils at three Colchester schools excelled in their exams and their results have contributed to their schools being listed among the top performing primaries in the country.

At Copford Church of England Primary, in School Road, all 30 Year 6 pupils hit the Level 4 target in 2011.

Millfields Primary in Bowes Road also had a 100% success rate as did St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary in Priory Street, where 28 pupils sat the exams.

Janet Meacock, headteacher at Millfields Primary School, said she was delighted the school had made the top 200, but warned against relying too much on league tables.

“League tables don’t really tell the whole story. For example they don’t tell you about the progress made by children with special needs who can’t reach level 4, but who have still achieved great things,” she said.

“Another year we might not feature as high on the league table, but we will still be equally as proud of our students.

“We want the children to be the best they can be in all areas including sport and the arts. We take part in competitive sports and our choir has performed at the O2. There are lots of different ways of raising a child’s achievement.”

Reflecting on this year’s high ranking, Ms Meacock puts it down to some changes made at the school over the last three years.

“Our school has made some big improvements and it’s down to the hard work and dedication from the staff who have a genuine joy for teaching,” she said.

“We have introduced our own themed curriculum which gets the children excited by what they are learning.”

Speaking about the future, she added: “There are difficult times ahead and teachers are concerned about what is going to happen to their pensions, but at this school the pupils come first. They leave us having reached the pinnacle of their potential.”