PRIMARY schools in Thurrock are now performing above the national average, the leader of the council has announced.

Councillor John Kent congratulated the borough’s primaries for finally closing the gap between Thurrock pupils achieving the expected level in reading, writing and arithmetic at Key Stage Two and the national average.

Last year’s results saw only 72.3 per cent of pupils achieve the Level Four standard but this year’s results saw a massive improvement with 76.8 per cent making the grade – the national average is 75 per cent.

Councillor Kent did not attempt to hide his delight at the results and even referenced Tony Blair’s famous 1997 election slogan on schooling.

He said: “It always give me pleasure to report good news in this way.

“Somebody once said his priorities were Education, Education, Education.

“Here in Thurrock our priorities should be Improvement, Improvement, Improvement - and it’s great to see that’s happening.”

He also singled out some particularly well-performing schools such as Benyon Primary, which has increased the number of pupils attaining Level Four and above from 42 per cent to 70.4 per cent; Stifford Clays Primary from 60.7 per cent to 82.6 per cent; Horndon-on-the-Hill from 68 per cent to 89 per cent and Thameside Primary, where he serves as a governor - from 58 per cent to 76 per cent.