Primary schools in Norfolk and Suffolk have one of the lowest attainments for reading, writing and maths in England, new figures reveal.

This morning, the Department for Education published its results for schools across the England.

Click here to see the primary school league table for the region.

Nationally, the percentage achieving the expected level (Level 4) in reading, writing and maths has risen by three percentage points to 79pc.

But in Norfolk and Suffolk, that key figure has fallen below at 74pc.

Last year Norfolk tied for 136th place out of 152 local authorities on the government's key measure of the number of youngsters achieving the expected level in maths and reading tests, and a teacher assessment for writing.

Suffolk was the joint fourth-worst authority in England for primary schools.

This year Norfolk has fallen to 141st place with five other authorities – including Suffolk saw a rise.

Under the Government's tougher standards, schools must ensure that at least 65pc of 11-year-olds reach that Level 4 - the standard expected of the age group - in reading, writing and maths, and meet national averages in pupil progress.

In our region, 77 schools failed to reach that new government target while 11 schools – 10 in Norfolk and one in Suffolk – all reached the 100pc mark in the standard assessment for reading, writing and maths.

Suffolk County Council is one of 13 local authorities where more than one in eight primaries are below the floor. 15pc below the standard.

Schools that fail to meet the benchmark - which is based on national curriculum test results at age 11 and pupil progress - are considered under-performing and at risk of being turned into an academy, or taken over by a different sponsor or trust if they already have academy status.

See tomorrow's paper for a full analysis and league tables.