SCHOOL pupils in Suffolk are continuing to equal or better the national average in maths, English and science, it has emerged.Figures published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show 75 per cent of 14-year-olds in Suffolk achieved the expected level in Key Stage 3 tests for English this year - above the national average of 74 pc.

SCHOOL pupils in Suffolk are continuing to equal or better the national average in maths, English and science, it has emerged.

Figures published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show 75 per cent of 14-year-olds in Suffolk achieved the expected level in Key Stage 3 tests for English this year - above the national average of 74 pc.

The county continued to exceed the standard performance in maths and science, achieving a success rate of 77pc and 77% respectively against national averages of 76pc and 73pc.

Pupils were congratulated for their performance by Suffolk's top education councillor.

Patricia O'Brien, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for children, schools and young people's services, said: “Children, teachers, parents and school staff in Suffolk should be congratulated on these results, which have come through a lot of hard work.

“They have maintained Suffolk's position of outperforming the national average in tests for 14-year-olds across the board.

“It is important, however, to make sure that everyone continues working together to build on these results, so that we can see improvements in the future. Children in Suffolk deserve the best possible education that can be provided for them and it is this goal that we will continue to work towards.”

Girls continued to better the performance of boys in English, with 82pc of girls achieving level five in English in Suffolk compared to 68pc of boys.

But boys equalled the girls' performance in maths and science in Suffolk at 77pc.

Nationally, fewer teenagers made the grade in maths this year, with the proportion of 14-year-olds reaching Level 5 dropping one percent to 76pc.

The fall followed a drop in English standards last year. This year's English tests results showed a slight increase.

But the figure of 74pc of pupils reaching Level 5 - the standard expected of 14-year-olds - was no higher than two years ago.

Essex also outstripped the national average for English in the tests, which assess the academic performance of 14-year-olds, at 76pc.

The county's pupils also equalled the national average for both maths and science at 76pc and 73pc.

Essex girls outperformed boys in English achieving 83pc against 69pc but the boys performed better at maths with a success rate of 77pc compared to 76pc of the girls.