Standards achieved by 11-year-olds in Southend have improved vastly in the last 12 months, it was revealed today.

The results of the 1999 Key Stage Two Standard Assessment Tests are well up on those for 1998 in all three core subjects, Southend Council has announced.

Pupils in year six are set a variety of tasks and tests and which are marked to certain levels. The biggest improvement came in maths, where test results were 11 per cent better than last year.

In the borough 67 per cent of pupils achieved the required miniumum standard or surprassed it, compared with 69 per cent nationally

Individual schools results varied greatly with some schools showing 47 per cent of pupils reaching the required level, and others up to 89 per cent.

The borough numeracy target is for 78 per cent of pupils to reach the expected grade by 2002.

English results were in line with the national average with 68 per cent of youngsters achieving or beating the required standard. This compares to 63 per cent in 1998

Southend schools' results ranged from 46 to 89 per cent of pupils gaining the recommended grade. A target of 80 per cent of all pupils achieving the level has been set for 2002.

Science test results also showed a substantial leap, with 77 per cent of pupils attaining level four or above this year, compared to 64 per cent last year.

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