Primary school children in Leicester have recorded some of their best-ever test results – and are continuing to close the gap on the national average.

Government figures published today, based on tests last spring, show dramatic improvements in schools across the city.

Schools in Leicestershire also continued to record good scores.

One school in Leicester, Eyres Monsell Primary, and two in the county, Orchard, in Broughton Astley, and Newbold Verdon, have been named among the top 30 schools in the entire country, out of nearly 15,000, for the amount pupils have progressed between the ages of seven and 11.

After many years when Leicester recorded the second lowest results in the country, the city is now 120th out of 148 authorities.

Coaching and one-to-one teaching sessions, which focus on helping individual children who are struggling, has helped improve results, head teachers say.

However, one area of concern is the number of schools that have failed to hit the Government's minimum target of 55% of children reaching the benchmark in English and maths.

Eleven schools in the city failed to do that this year, compared with eight the year before.

The Eyres Monsell's head, Sally Morrison, said specific teaching targeted at each pupils' needs contributed to their "amazing" progress.

She said: "We know exactly how each child is progressing so we can tailor teaching to their needs.

"We can then challenge each pupil so they can get the best results they possibly can."

Montrose School, in Aylestone, recorded the city's highest results, followed by Whitehall Primary and Linden Primary, both in Evington.

Marriott Primary, in Saffron Lane, which had among the worst results for several years, has shown a dramatic upturn in fortunes.

This year, 83% of pupils achieved the benchmark in English compared with 44%, in 2007.

Head Catherine Stretton said: "We've focused on high quality teaching and regular use of pupil assessment information so we can accurately pinpoint what children can and can't do, so that teachers can plan future lessons using that."

By contrast, Knighton Fields Primary had the city's lowest results, with just 31% achieving the Government benchmark in English.

Braunstone Primary and Barley Croft Primary, in Beaumont Leys, recorded the next lowest scores.

Margaret Libreri, director of Learning Services at Leicester City Council, said: "We're very pleased some schools, such as Marriott, have made significant improvements and we will continue to support schools still below the 55% floor target to overcome the challenges they face.

"This includes schools such as Knighton Fields, which has experienced a high level of turbulence over the year with a significant number of new pupils enrolling in the school."

Councillor Vi Dempster, city council cabinet education spokeswoman, said she was delighted the results had narrowed the gap betweenLeicester and the national average to three percentage points.

She said: "Support packages, including improved ways of assessing pupil progress for targeted help, have paid off."

Highfields Primary, Montrose, Taylor Road, in St Matthew's, Sparkenhoe, in Highfields, Stathern, near Melton, and, Warren Hills, in Coalville, all recorded some of the country's best "pupil progress" scores.

Six schools in the county all achieved a 100% pass rate in the three subjects but the county is now 53rd out of 152 local authorities, down from 49th last year.

Results show 76% of 11-year-olds in city schools achieved the national benchmark in English, the same as last year; 77% in maths, up three points; and 86% in science, up two.

Nationally, the averages are 80%, 79% and 88%

In Leicestershire, the results were: 82% in English, down two; 80% in maths, no change; and 89% in science, no change.