FOUR County Durham schools were celebrating last night after all their pupils achieved the benchmark level of achievement in English, maths and science.

St Michael's RC Primary School, in Esh village, Woodlea Primary School, in Fencehouses, Hunwick Primary School, in Crook, and Our Lady and St Thomas RC Primary School, in Willington, all achieved three 100 per cent scores.

Two of the best-performing schools were involved in a multi-million pound Government Testbed technology initiative, which put computers at the heart of school life.

Hunwick Primary, ranked third in County Durham, and Our Lady and St Thomas were linked with Willington Parkside and its feeder primaries in 2002.

Although Testbed funding ended in April, Hunwick headteacher Sue Smith said the full impact of the project was just being felt.

She said: "It has changed both teaching and learning, allowing children to be more adventurous and giving them the feeling of being in charge of their own learning.

"Special needs children have really benefited from programmes, which let them try over and over again without being judged.

"The special needs results have been wonderful, they all achieved level 4.

"But having access to technology means nothing without a teacher who can inspire the children. Our teacher, Damian Hassan, has been brilliant."

Frances Gowland, headteacher of Our Lady and St Thomas, said: "ICT helped transform teaching and learning by making it exciting for children.

"At the same time, the success is due to the hard work and commitment of everyone associated with the school."

Councillor Claire Vasey, Durham County Council's cabinet member for children's services, congratulated schools on the good results.

She said: "For many years now, the Key Stage 2 performance of County Durham primary schools has exceeded the national average, and I am delighted to see that the trend has continued."

Nationally, record numbers of 11-year-olds reached the expected standard.

Levels of achievement in the core subjects of English, maths and science at Key Stage 2 (age 11) are at their highest yet, the Department for Education and Skills reported.

According to the latest primary school league tables, 76 per cent of 11-year-olds achieved the expected target in maths, in England, up one per cent from last year.

Standards in science also increased, up one per cent on last year to 87 per cent.

In English, 79 per cent achieved the target, the same number as last year.

However, key primary school targets designed to raise standards in English and maths are still being missed.

The Government had aimed to get 85 per cent of 11-year-olds in England up to the level expected of their age group.

Schools Minister Lord Andrew Adonis said the Government was determined to redouble its efforts to help the 11-year-olds who were still not reaching the required standard in literacy and maths.