THURROCK Council has published its annual review of educational achievement with plenty of gold stars but a number of disturbing criticisms.

The Ockendon School once gain received major plaudits. The rate of improvement for pupils between Year Six and Year 11 places it in the top five per cent in England while Treetops School, Chafford Hundred, Gable Hall and William Edwards are placed in the top 25 per cent.

The percentage of students across the borough gaining five or more GCSE's at A* to C rose by 4.5 per cent.

Going to school must be an attractive proposition as Thurrock has the second lowest rate of truancy in the East of England.

Girls' writing standards at Key Stage One are two per cent above the national average.

Academic progress of Black Minority Ethnics is above that of white British pupils in the borough and attendance by gypsy and traveller pupils has risen 12% in the past three years.

Council Leader Terry Hipsey said: "I am delighted to see our schools doing so well for the young people of Thurrock. These results demonstrate our unrelenting drive to push up standards so our children can reach their true potential."

Director for Children's Services, Robert McCulloch-Graham said: "This really is good news for our schools. The data used in these assessments are the most accurate to determine the effectiveness of our schools.Thurrock parents should be proud of their children's progress."

On the downside,Thurrock boys are now bottom of all 150 Local Authorities at Level five for Maths. Their reading and writing standards at Key Stage 1 are 10% and 18% below the national average respectively.

Head of Service Schools and Learning, Christine Tinkler said: "We have a problem in the borough with white working class boys and educational achievement."

Grays School and Media Arts College and Chadwell St Mary Primary went into special measures while Chafford Hundred Campus was given notice to improve.

The report illustrated the borough's tough discipline policy with 200 primary and 1953 secondary pupils given fixed term exclusions.

Teachers also came in for criticism. Ofsted reported that during inspections only 45 per cent of lessons were "good or better" compared to the national average of 61 per cent.

Alarmingly, 50 per cent of primary teachers surveyed did not feel confident teaching maths to high achievers.

Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Amanda Arnold said: "I am alarmed that teachers who have spent years at university cannot teach maths. My children are at primary age and, although not taught in the borough, I would hope their maths teachers were up to the job."

Commenting on the overall report, Labour's Education spokesperson Councillor Marian Canavon said: "This is a fair and balanced assessment of where we are. There are very many positives to be taken from this report, but we also know there is still much to do."