Maths scores have fallen below the national average in primary schools throughout Sussex.

The latest test results show little change in English and science scores this year but average maths results have dropped across Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, and West Sussex.

The Government tables show the percentage of 11-year-olds in England reaching the required standard (level four) in the three core subjects during Key Stage 2 tests taken this summer.

The national averages are 75 per cent in English, 71 per cent in maths, and 87 per cent in science.

In Brighton and Hove, average maths scores fell from 70 to just over 66 per cent, in East Sussex from 71 to 68 per cent and in West Sussex from 72 to 70 per cent.

It is the first time maths scores have fallen at primary schools in Brighton and Hove for five years. The results contrast with last year's success, when the education authority was ranked one of the top four most improved authorities in England.

Although there were slight increases in English and science scores, the latest results mean the city's education authority has slipped from mid-table to 118th place out of the 150 authorities in England.

David Hawker, director of education at Brighton and Hove City Council, insisted the fall in maths was part of a national downturn, although some schools had bucked the trend.

He said: "I see this as a correction against the very strong performance we had the previous year. As a result, some schools may have concentrated on areas that were considered weak and maths was not regarded as one of them.

"I think it's important to look at results over a five- year period rather than one single year. Overall, it is an upward trend and I anticipate that will continue."

Frieda Warman-Brown, Cabinet councillor for education at Brighton and Hove, said: "We have noted the overall dip in maths and will be concentrating our efforts to help schools continue to improve standards."

Although maths scores dropped in the city, scores in English increased slightly to 73 per cent and in science to 83.5 per cent - but remained below the national average.

One of the best success stories was St Paul's Primary School and Nursery in Brighton, which not only recorded the highest overall score in the city but was also one of the city's most improved schools.

Results increased in English from 84 per cent to 95 per cent, in maths from 64 per cent to 90 per cent and in science from 72 per cent to 100 per cent.

Headteacher Dorian Morgan said: "Our position as the best performing school in the city is particularly encouraging as we are a central school with pupils from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds."

Another improving school was St Mark's, in Whitehawk, which had recorded the worst overall score in Brighton and Hove last year and was identified as having "serious weaknesses" by Ofsted inspectors until March this year.

It improved in English from 35 to 53 per cent, maths from 31 to 57 per cent, and science from 42 to 63 per cent.

Headteacher Sharie Coombes, who joined the school in September last year, said: "I was thrilled when I saw the results. We have tried to engage pupils with such things as the breakfast club, which has been a huge success."

Schools which showed a decline in performance included Fairlight Primary School, in Brighton, which had a drop in results in all three subjects, including a fall in maths scores from 75 to 31 per cent.

Headteacher Andrew Wesby, who took up his post in May, said: "There has been a lot of disruption at the school over the last few months so these results are not entirely surprising."

Other schools with falling scores were Benfield Junior School, in Portslade, Saltdean Primary School, and Whitehawk Primary School, which scored the lowest results in the city, keeping the school in the bottom 200 primary schools in England.

In East Sussex there was a slight improvement in science scores this year, although this was offset by a slight drop in English scores as well as maths. It left the county's education authority in 100th place.

West Sussex remained the only education authority to enjoy an overall score above the national average, putting the authority in 56th place in England.

For full league tables go to: thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/education__training/performance_tables/