PRIMARY schools in Dorset are setting the benchmark for standards nationwide, according to figures released today.

The provisional results of standard assessment tests (SATs) for seven and 11-year-olds show that Dorset pupils are ahead of the national average in every subject area.

Teachers and pupils have been congratulated for their hard work, which has seen improvements on last year's results across the board.

Harry Turner, head of school improvement at Dorset County Council, said: "We are really very pleased.

"When you get a good set of results it comes down to the hard work of the teachers and children, and the support of their parents."

Dorset reflects the national trend of improvements in maths and English.

Dorset pupils, aged 11, have done exceptionally well. The number of 11-year-olds in Dorset attaining the government standard is four per cent higher than the national average in English, maths and science.

In English, 83 per cent of Dorset pupils attained the standard compared to the national average of 79 per cent.

Nationally, 86 per cent of pupils passed the standard science assessment compared to 90 per cent in Dorset.

The county has also beaten its own results from last year.

Seventy-nine per cent of pupils in Dorset attained the maths standard this year, an increase on last year's 75 per cent.

Dorset's performance in English is also up by two per cent on last year's 81 per cent.

The figures suggest Dorset schools are in a good position to meet the government target of 85 per cent of children attaining the standard level in maths and English by next year.

Results for seven-year-old pupils in the county have also shown improvements on last year and all three assessments in reading, writing and maths are above the national average.

In Dorset 86 per cent of pupils achieved the writing standard, compared to 82 per cent nationwide.

However, this figure was down on the county's score of 88 per cent last year.

Strengths

Mr Turner said: "We visit all the schools and go through their data from previous years, looking at strengths and weaknesses.

"We identify where improvements are needed and then provide support in those specific areas."

Mr Turner said maths results have improved across Dorset and the gap between boys and girls in English is decreasing.

He added: "I must stress that these results are provisional but it's looking good for Dorset this year."