The tests are taken by children in Year Six

Both education authorities' schools' results are down on last year.

The tables are based on the percentages of pupils achieving the expected level - known as Level 4 - in the Key Stage 2 national curriculum tests (SATS) in 2003.

The tests are taken in Year Six when children are aged 10 or 11 and the schools are ranked on scores in three subjects - English, maths and science.

How the county fares Kent - 226.9 Medway - 220.2 England average - 234 Figures are out of 300 and are averages for the areas' eligible schools

This year for the first time there are also "value added" scores - to show how much pupils have improved since they took their first national tests, at Key Stage 1 when they were aged six or seven.

Special schools, small schools and private schools have not been included.

The most improved school in Kent, based on the new value-added figures, is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Broadstairs, a faith school that was in the private sector until 1997.