Primary schools in Lincolnshire are performing above the national average by the skin of their teeth, according to the latest exam results.

SAT results for 2009 published yesterday show Lincolnshire has come 62nd out of 147 local authorities in England.

A total of 81 per cent of primary pupils in the county achieved level four in English while 80 per cent achieved the same level in maths.

And 89 per cent gained level four in science – which has now been scrapped as an SAT.

Nationally, English is 80 per cent, maths is 79 per cent and science is 88 per cent.

Those achieving level four in English and maths combined is at 73 per cent – one per cent up on the national figure.

Lincoln school, The Hackthorn Church of England, near Welton, came out on top with 100 per cent scores in English, maths and science.

This propelled it into the top 200 schools in the country achieving level four scores across the board.

At the Priory Witham Academy in Shannon Avenue, Lincoln, just 50 per cent of children achieved level four in English and maths.

And Bishop King Primary School in Kingsway, Lincoln, tumbled into the 200 schools in England with the worst record for persistent absence, with 9.9 per cent of children.