FOURTEEN primary schools in north Essex would be considered as failing to give pupils a decent grounding in reading, writing and arithmetic, under tough new targets.

Official figures show the schools would not reach the new benchmark announced by the Government last month.

The statistics come in new primary school league tables, which also highlight the chaos caused by this year’s boycott of the national curriculum Sats tests.

Of the 127 primary schools listed in Colchester, Tendring and Braintree, 15 boycotted the exams.

Some teachers claimed Sats ruined children’s education as schools were put under pressure to “teach to the test” to boost results.

The Bishop William Ward Primary School, in Great Horkesley, was one of the highest achieving schools in the area, with all pupils attaining the benchmark.

St Thomas More’s Primary School in Colchester also achieved 100 per cent.

The new target, published in an education White Paper, said primaries will fall below the bar if fewer than 60 per cent of their pupils reach a level four grade in English and maths.

John Bunyan Junior School, in Braintree, had the lowest level of pupils attaining a level four grade in the area, at 37 per cent.

Other schools falling below the new benchmark include Alton Park Junior School, Cann Hall, Coppins Green and Ravenscroft primary schools in Clacton, as well as Frobisher in Jaywick.

Heybridge Primary, Ridgewell Primary School, in Halstead, St Andrew’s Primary School, in Marks Tey, Stanway Fiveways and St Michael’s, in Colchester, also fell below the standard.