TEST VALLEY pupils are helping Hampshire work its way to the top of the class in primary school exams.

Final performance tables for Key Stage Two Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) results revealed that the county’s schools have built on the “very high” standards their pupils attain in reading, writing and maths, with impressive 2014 figures placing Hampshire well within the top quarter of authorities in the UK.

Thousands of children across the county sat the tests in May, towards the end of their time at primary school.

The statistics have now shown that 91 per cent of those children achieved the nationally expected level four or above in reading, with 90 per cent doing the same in writing.

Both figures are higher than the national results of 89 per cent and 88 per cent respectively.

Hampshire was also above average in maths, with 88 per cent of pupils achieving at least a level four in 2014 – higher than the nationwide level of 86 per cent.

It means that the percentage of youngsters achieving level four in all areas also continued to rise, with 82 per cent of children reaching the target in all four areas, up from 79 per cent in 2013.

Meanwhile a quarter of pupils across the county reached level five in all three subject areas.

The county’s education chief, Cllr Peter Edgar, said: “I congratulate Hampshire’s children and their schools for the outstanding results achieved in this year’s Key Stage Two Standard Assessment Tests. These results reflect the high expectations and hard work of our children, teachers and local authority staff.

“We are immensely proud of, and ambitious, for our schools and the pupils who are educated by them.

“The schools provide a fantastic service for Hampshire children, supported by an authority recognised by Ofsted for the quality of its education.

“Our primary schools are among the very best in the country and these results reflect the high standards of the children, parents teachers, governors and local authority staff.”