A village primary school has triumphed in the success stakes - by coming third in Essex's league table.

Engaines County Primary in Little Clacton achieved the outstanding position after its pupils excelled in tests for 11-year-olds.

The assessments, carried out in May, are meant to encourage improvement to national standards in three core subjects.

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Performance tables The results are today published by the Government in the fourth annual primary school league tables.

Engaines Primary School has leapt a staggering 79 places to its new position

Headteacher Doug Brown today said: "We are very encouraged by our results and the position of our school in the performance table.

"The results this year have been very good and reflect the ability of the particular cohort of children and the hard work that has been put in year after year by staff, governors, parents and children themselves."

He said the children had benefited from a number of new initiatives including literacy hour, booster classes held after school and during Easter holidays to keep skills sharp, regular homework and before and after school homework clubs.

Mr Brown added: "It is difficult to judge the impact of these initiatives as we always expected this particular group of children to do well, in line with their abilities.

"The problem for us will be to maintain the standards that we have achieved as our budget has been reduced this year and is likely to be reduced further next year."

Ramsey County Primary near Harwich also did very well and came fifth in the table. It was 64th last year.

In Colchester a village primary won an extra special accolade when it was named in the 100 most improving schools in the whole of the country.

St Lawrence Primary in Rowhedge was among only three other Essex schools to be included in that list.

In addition the school was ranked eight in the Essex primary league table, just five below Engaines.

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