EDUCATION chiefs in County Durham are celebrating after education test results rose by more than the national average.

They say it was a significant year for Key Stage 2 results, especially in English, which rose from 77 to 79 per cent, double the increases nationally.

Maths also went up to 77 per cent and science to 87 per cent, again more than the national average.

"We look to be in the top one-third in the national league table which is a terrific performance given the socio-economic context of the county," said Councillor Michelle Hodgson, Durham County Council cabinet member for safeguarding children.

"We wanted to have a significant year in English and we have done so.

"The even better news is that the performance has been particularly good from boys - they have narrowed the gap on girls.

"It's particularly interesting that preliminary information nationally suggests that the gender gap has widened at Key Stage 2 this year but we have reversed that," she said.

Tests for 14-year-olds showed significant improvement in both maths and science to complement last year's five per cent improvement in English.

Cabinet member for children's services, Neil Foster, said: "Our big challenge is at GCSE and we have done well recently, doubling the national rate of improvement over the last two years.''

"We stand at exactly 51 per cent - a rise of nearly 4.5 per cent on last year - and a rise of more than ten per cent over the last three years."