Classroom standards in Kent's primary schools have shown no improvement over last year according to official league tables published today.

Results published by the Government show that fewer children in the county in 2009 reached the expected national level in English compared with the previous year, while the numbers reaching the expected level in maths and science stayed the same.

~ See the Kent league tables >>>

It is the first time in several years that the results for Kent's primary schools have broadly stood still in the three core subjects.

The results for Key Stage 2 tests taken by 11-year-olds in Kent mirrors a similar decline nationally.

The percentage of pupils in Kent reaching Level Four in English - the nationally expected level - was 78 per cent, down one per cent on 2008 and below the national average of 80 per cent.

In maths, the percentage of pupils reaching Level Four was 75 per cent, the same as it was in 2008 and below the national average of 79 per cent. Similarly, in science, the percentage reaching Level Four was 85 per cent, identical to the score in 2008 and below the national average of 88 per cent.

The percentage of pupils reaching Level Four in both maths and English also dropped slightly, down one per cent to 68 per cent of pupils. That was mirrored nationally, where the figure dropped to 72 per cent.

There were mixed results for pupils reaching higher standards in the three subjects. In English, 28 per cent achieved Level Five, a drop of one per cent. In maths, the figure was 33 per cent - three points up on 2008. In science, the figure was 38 per cent - the same as 2008.

Diana Johnson, the schools minister, said more needed to be done to “sustain progress”.

She added: “Parents, headteachers and governing bodies will be rightly concerned that we have not seen an improvement this year compared to last year and we are too.”

The future of primary testing is uncertain after teaching unions threatened to boycott them earlier this year.

In Medway, there was also a drop in standards with fewer children reaching the standards expected for their age group in maths and English.

In English, 75 per cent of pupils reached Level Four, the nationally expected level, in 2009 compared with 78 per cent the previous year.

In maths, the percentage fell by one point to 73 per cent while the combined score for both subjects dropped to 65 per cent.

There was better news in science, where 85 per cent of pupils attained the expected level - up one per cent on the previous year.