Latest data shows that exam results at Hertfordshire schools are exceeding national averages overall – but children eligible for free school meals are doing less well.

According to the data, Hertfordshire children exceeded national exam results at every stage, including early years, primary and secondary school.

And at each stage the authority ranked in the top 40% nationally.

When it came to the very youngest children in Hertfordshire, 69.8% achieved a good level of development in the early years foundation stage – compared to 68.3% nationally.

And 81.6% of children in year one met the expected standard in their phonic check – compared to 79.9% nationally.

At the end of primary school, the percentage of key stage two children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths was 63.8% in Hertfordshire – compared to 62.6% nationally.

And, according to the report, at the end of secondary school, Hertfordshire's key stage four and key stage five results were in the top 20% of local authorities in the country.

The average 'Attainment 8' (A8) score across eight subjects – at GCSE or equivalent – in Hertfordshire was 50.5, compared to 45.9 nationally.

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And the proportion of Hertfordshire schoolchildren achieving a 'standard' grade four pass in maths and English was 71.4% – which was 6.9% above the national average.

Meanwhile the average point score per examination entry for A level students in Hertfordshire was 36.7, which is equivalent to a B- grade.

And that's in excess of the 34.9 average point score nationally, which is equivalent to a C+ grade.

Nevertheless the data also shows the gap between achievement of pupils in the county who are eligible for free school meals – compared to their Hertfordshire classmates are not and to those children eligible for free school meals elsewhere in the country.

In Hertfordshire, the data shows that just 44.2% of children eligible for free school meals achieved a 'good level of development' in the 'early years foundation stage'.

And that's 29% lower than the proportion of young children in Hertfordshire who are not eligible for free school meals reaching the same level – but also 7.1% lower than the national average for those children who are eligible for free school meals.

At the end of primary school, the data shows that 39.7% of Hertfordshire children who are eligible for free school meals reached the expected standards in English, writing and maths.

But that's 30.1% lower than the proportion of Hertfordshire children not eligible for free school meals. And it's 8.2% lower than children who are eligible nationally.

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Within Hertfordshire, the gap in attainment grows at key stage four, with 46.3% of children eligible for free school meals achieving a standard grade four pass in English and maths – compared to 78.9% of Hertfordshire children who are not.

By comparison, nationally 47.5% of children eligible for free school meals achieved the same level – which is 1.2% higher than in Herts.

The data has been compiled in a report than will be considered by a meeting of the county council's education, skills and inclusion cabinet panel on Wednesday (11 March).