WORCESTERSHIRE schools are following the national trend for this year's Key Stage 2 performance exams, it was revealed today.

The league tables show how many children in county schools achieve Level 4 or above - the level expected of a typical 11-year-old by the National Curriculum.

In this year's results maths is down, English stays the same and science has improved compared to last year's figures.

Sixty-six per cent of the county's 11-year-olds achieved Level 4 and above in maths, a drop of two per cent on last year. In 1999, 67 per cent reached the required level.

In English the figure was 74 per cent, the same as last year and a four per cent improvement on 1999.

Pupils improved in science with 85 per cent reaching the required level, compared to 83 per cent in 2000 and 79 per cent the year before.

"In the last few years we've seen the introduction of the literacy and numeracy strategies in our schools and the hard work undertaken by teachers and pupils in respect of raising standards across the county," said Clive Wilkinson, the county's head of quality.

"This year the results of Key Stage 2 are variable across the county, but the results are following national figures.

"While science at Key Stage 2 continues to improve both locally and nationally, English results have plateaued this year and maths has dipped slightly.

"Worcestershire is often regarded as an 'average LEA' and our pattern of achievement this year reflects the national trend at Key Stage 2 almost exactly.

"We're working hard to move Worcestershire schools beyond average and to raise levels of pupil achievement.

"We hope by next summer we'll be near or at our targets for literacy and numeracy and the hard work put in by staff and pupils will come to fruition."

These targets for 2002 were set in 1999 and are an 82 per cent pass rate for English and 77 per cent for maths.

Particular successes in the county this year include Broadheath CE Primary, near Worcester, which was ranked first in the county with all 24 pupils reaching the levels in all three subjects.

Clifton upon Teme Primary also had a 100 per cent pass rate for all 13 pupils and was ranked second in the county.

At the other end of the spectrum, Poolbrook Primary in Malvern was ranked 96 in the county. Only 21 per cent reached the maths level, with 42 per cent reaching Level 4 in English, and 47 per cent in science.

Poolbrook, together with Dines Green Primary and Gorse Hill Primary, both in Worcester, was ranked in the bottom 200 primaries in the country.