Primary schools in Norfolk and Waveney have celebrated a leap in year six exam results - but figures show thousands of pupils are still learning in under-performing schools.

Norfolk and Suffolk both saw 57pc of 11-year-olds meet the expected standard for reading, writing and maths in their 2017 SATs - just shy of the national 61pc average.

But it came as an increase for both - Norfolk recorded 50pc and Suffolk scored 49pc in 2016, which was the first year of new, more challenging assessments.

A handful of schools this year recorded an impressive 100pc, including Somerleyton, Surlingham, Neatishead, Dickleburgh and Buxton Primary Schools.

And Howard Junior School, in King's Lynn, came second of all schools nationally for progress in writing.

Eastern Daily Press: The primary school league tables have been released today. Picture: Chris Radburn/PA WireThe primary school league tables have been released today. Picture: Chris Radburn/PA Wire (Image: Archant)

For Dickleburgh Primary School, it was the seventh year in a row that every pupil met the standard.

Headteacher James Richards said: 'We are consistent and we make sure that we do the basics well.

'It is because of the consistency of our teaching and our high expectations that it continues to happen.

'We are very pleased - and we have to remember that our school has grown. Seven years ago, we were a school of 90 pupils, and now we have 200.

'The school has grown but the standards have stayed the same.'

The number of Norfolk schools classed as under-performing by the government - where fewer than 65pc of pupils reach the standard - fell from 18 to 15 this year.

But the figure still means that at least 3,000 pupils are learning in schools in the category.

At Henderson Green Primary Academy, in Norwich, 7pc of its pupils met the government's expected standard.

But headteacher Adam Dabin, who joined the school in September, said major improvements had already been made over the last three months.

He said: 'The school has always been seen as a challenge, which is the reason it joined the [Heart Education Trust]. Already there has been a big turnaround, and progress measures are showing improvements.

'There has already been a massive difference.'

A Norfolk County Council spokesperson said this year's results represented a 'significant improvement' and showed schools are 'increasingly rising to the challenge'.

'I'm exceptionally proud'

It's been quite a year for Stalham Academy.

The school has welcomed an Ofsted inspection which rated it good across the board, enjoyed praise from the new regional schools commissioner Sue Baldwin and, earlier this week, was highlighted by Ofsted's regional director as being a standout success in his annual report.

And in their key stage two tests, a remarkable 91pc of its 56 pupils achieved the government standard - a 10 percentage point rise on last year.

Headteacher Glenn Russell put the results down to the school's staff, its co-operative learning approach and a supportive teacher training model.

He said: 'I'm an exceptionally proud headteacher at the moment. We were expecting to be in the mid 80s so to have achieved 91pc is great.

'The staff, the support staff and everyone from the finance team to the admin staff are incredible and really pull together.'

He also praised the school's 'hugely supportive' community.

Schools classed as under performing

Almost 140,000 children around the country are being taught at 511 mainstream primaries - 3.2pc of all schools - which are classed as under performing.

Of those, 15 were in Norfolk - down from 18 last year - including Wayland Academy, in Watton, Great Yarmouth Primary Academy and Bluebell Primary School.

In Suffolk, there were 11, including Forest Academy, in Brandon, and Bungay Primary School.

But, overall, the number of 11-year-olds meeting the government standard rose, as schools got to grips with tough new assessments.

Last year, the national average sat at 53pc, in the first year of a new benchmark for the tests, which are taken at the end of primary school. One year on, the figure rose eight percentage points to 61pc.

School standards minister Nick Gibb said this year's results showed 'teachers and pupils have responded well to the new, more rigorous curriculum'.