Primary school pupils have recorded the best exam results in core subjects the city has seen.

Leicester City Council leapt 14 places in league tables published today, to 115th out of 152 authorities nationally, for English and maths tests taken by 11-year-olds in the spring.

However, Leicestershire slipped 29 places to 87th.

At St Thomas More Catholic Primary, in Knighton, Leicester, 92 per cent of pupils taking key stage two Sats tests achieved the Government's benchmark standard in English and 95 per cent in maths and science.

Head teacher Pat Mason said: "We have an incredibly creative curriculum which keeps the children highly engaged.

"The school also has an ethos of love and care, which means pupils want to come here."

Among the city's other top primaries was Whitehall, in Evington, where 97 per cent reached the benchmark in English, 95 per cent in maths and 90 per cent in science.

Head teacher Anna Boychuk said: "It's down to lots of hard work and a whole-team effort.

"Not only that but we have lots of parental support. These results aren't quite our best but they show how we sustain a good performance."

However, Queensmead Primary, in Braunstone – where 31 per cent achieved the standard in English and maths combined – was in the bottom 200 schools in the country.

In total, 78 per cent of 11-year-olds in city schools achieved the benchmark in English and 79 per cent in maths – three per cent higher in each subject than the previous year.

In English and maths combined, 72 per cent achieved the benchmark, compared with 69 per cent the year before.

Nationally, the averages were 82 per cent, 80 per cent and 74 per cent.

Sats tests in science have been scrapped and replaced with teacher assessment.

Councillor Vi Dempster, the city council education spokeswoman, said: "We have a growing number of schools that exceed national averages and some of these are in areas with high levels of child poverty, including Marriott, Braunstone and Highfields.

"We're immensely proud of our primary schools and I congratulate them on their continued hard work and achievements."

Several schools in Leicestershire, including Husbands Bosworth CofE and Foxton primaries, had 100 per cent of pupils reaching the benchmark in English, maths and science.

Orchard CofE Primary, in Broughton Astley, was also among the top 200 schools in the country for English and maths.

Head teacher Fiona Jones said: "I'm thoroughly delighted by our best-ever results.

"We have been consistently good for the past five years and it's really pleasing that we continue to show our systems are working.

"We have made the curriculum as creative and relevant as possible and it's paying off."

Leicestershire's individual results in core subjects were not available but Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for children, said they were above national averages.

He said: "We continue to provide very high standards but we will not be complacent."

See the scores for every school in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland CLICK HERE

TOP 10: Schools in the city and county (for selected Sats results)

City

Charnwood Primary, Highfields

Christ the King RC Primary, Western Park

Glebelands Primary, Beaumont Leys

Hope Hamilton CofE Primary, Hamilton

Sandfield Close Primary, Rushey Mead

St John the Baptist CofE, Clarendon Park

St Thomas More RC Primary, Knighton

Uplands Junior, Highfields

Whitehall Primary, Evington

Wolsey House Primary, Beaumont Leys

County

Buckminster Primary, Vale of Belvoir

Foxton Primary

Harby CofE Primary

Hose CofE Primary

Husbands Bosworth CofE Primary

Orchard CofE Primary, Broughton Astley

The Pochin School, Barkby

Thringstone Primary

Woodhouse Eaves St Paul’s CofE Primary

Wymeswold CofE Primary

Results are based on the average of this year’s scores for key stage two Sats in English, maths and science. Schools are listed in alphabetical order.