Half of the district’s primary schools are below national average, latest league tables have revealed.

In England, 75 per cent of pupils are meeting minimum targets in reading, writing and maths - but nine primary schools out of 18 in the Maldon district do not reach that standard.

Three schools in the district are underperforming, according to the Department for Education, which said at least 60 per cent of pupils must achieve level four or higher in the three subjects at Key Stage 2.

These are Maldon Primary School, Heybridge Primary School and Southminster Primary School.

Maldon Primary School, in Wantz Chase, was the lowest-ranked school in the district, with less than half of its 11-year-old pupils reaching the expected standards in the three subjects.

Only 48 per cent of pupils achieving a level four or higher in the latest tests – placing it 164th worst in the country.

See this week's MBS for the full story.