PRIMARY schools in Bournemouth are in the bottom third in England, according to the latest league tables.

The authority came 104th out of 152 council areas when the percentage of children achieving the expected standard in both English and maths was calculated.

Poole’s primary and middle schools were ranked 89th and those in the Dorset County Council area 70th.

Bournemouth saw 71 per cent of pupils achieve the national standard in both subjects, Poole 73 per cent and Dorset 74 per cent.

Education secretary Michael Gove set new targets this year, warning that schools with fewer than 60 per cent of pupils making the grade in both subjects could face intervention, possible takeover or being converted into an academy.

At least seven schools across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset fall into that category including Winton Primary School, Pokesdown Community Primary and Kingsleigh Primary in Bournemouth, Branksome Heath Middle and Turlin Moor Community School in Poole and Bovington and West Moors Middle Schools in Dorset.

Some of the highest performing schools across the area were St Mary’s Catholic Combined in Poole, St Mark’s Church of England in Bournemouth and Mudeford Junior in Christchurch.

Stower Provost Community School in Gillingham was one of only 289 primary schools nationally to achieve a clean sweep of 100 per cent in both English and maths.

Bournemouth council said all its eligible schools took the tests, making comparisons unfair as only three-quarters of schools nationally took the test.

A statement from Di Mitchell, Bournemouth council’s service director for children’s learning and engagement, said: “Bournemouth’s primary school results have improved year on year and in 2010 are the highest ever achieved at Level 4+ and Level 5.

“I am pleased that the nine per cent improvement in writing results means that children achieving Level 4 in combined reading and writing and mathematics has gone up significantly to reach the national percentage. We continue to make good progress in the borough working in partnership with schools to ensure the positive trend continues.”

Some schools boycotted the tests, which were criticised by the National Union of Teachers as “a demoralising naming and shaming process”.

And Russell Hobby of the National Association of Head Teachers added: “What every parent needs to know is how well their child will do there and how happy they will be – league tables don’t tell you that.”