Nearly 3,000 more Welwyn Hatfield pupils are being taught in officially satisfactory schools, thanks to five improved reports in 12 months.

With Ofsted promoting two secondary and three primary schools in the borough from “requires improvement” to “good” between September 2014 and September 2015, 2,959 extra Welwyn Hatfield children are at schools in the top two categories.

Across Hertfordshire, 7,636 extra pupils are in “outstanding” or “good” schools, but none of the 14 promoted to these categories in the period was in neighbouring Hertsmere.

Peter Brown, headteacher at Stanborough School in Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, said: “Our

above average exam results and high quality pastoral care are a tribute to our excellent team of staff and recognition of our fantastic students whose achievements improve every year.”

Debbie Shirley, headteacher at Homerswood Primary School in Kirklands, Welwyn Garden City, said: “The staff, pupils and parents have worked relentlessly to improve the outcomes for all.

“The inspectors stated that we were well placed to move to ‘outstanding’ at the next Ofsted inspection.

“We are very proud of our school.”

Chancellor’s in Brookmans Park, De Havilland Primary School in Travellers Lane, Hatfield, and Northaw Primary School near Potters Bar were also favourably reclassified in the period.

County councillor David Williams, cabinet education chief, said: “We already had some of the best education facilities in the UK, so to show such improvement is a fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work of pupils and teachers.

“It is a priority for the county council to make sure young people get a good start in life. One way we can do that is through Herts for Learning {a County Hall support organisation] supporting our schools to create an environment which enables pupils to excel in their studies.”