Primary schools in Brighton and Hove are outperforming their counterparts in East and West Sussex, according to the first national assessment by the Government’s school inspectors.

Ofsted has issued its first ever school report looking at the performance of all 180 local education authorities across the country.

The report reveals the percentage of pupils attending good or outstanding primary schools in each area.

Brighton and Hove has eclipsed both neighbouring authorities in East and West Sussex with an improved score of 72%, up 4% from August last year.

Authorities in East and West Sussex both achieved 70%.

Sue Shanks, the chair of Brighton and Hove City Council’s children and young people committee, said: “We welcome Ofsted’s acknowledgement that we are in the top tier nationally of areas where pupils are likely to attend a good or outstanding primary school.

“It’s a tribute to the hard work of our headteachers, teaching and support staff and our small team of advisers, and to the efforts they have made to share best practice and work together to improve standards across the city as a whole.”

Improved teaching

East Sussex County Council recorded a 2% improvement.

David Elkin, lead member for children’s services at East Sussex, said it was working with the Department for Education on ideas to improve primary schools in the county.

He said: “We also know there is more to do, especially around improving the quality of teaching and leadership in our schools.”

He added that the council was looking at federating and amalgamating schools.

He said: “We remain committed to all East Sussex schools and to our role in improving them, and will continue to up our game to meet HMCI’s challenge.”

West Sussex County Council was the only authority of the three to record a drop in performance.

Data from August last year showed the county achieved an overall performance score of 73%. The new figures is 70%.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “The report will be studied with interest by all our schools and we are pleased that Ofsted has reported improvements in both leadership and teaching.

“There is certainly no complacency on our part or that of the leadership teams and teachers in our schools, and we can assure parents that we share Ofsted’s ideal of competing with the best in the world.”

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