RESULTS of national tests for 13 and 14 year olds have revealed standards in Wiltshire are continually improving.

The county is above average for the number of pupils attaining level five or above in English, Maths and Science, the standard set by the Government for Key Stage 3 tests.

Bob Wolfson, director of education for Wiltshire, said: "Pupils are continuing to perform above national averages in all three core subjects, and they are moving further ahead of these averages year on year.

"I am delighted with the progress being made."

St Augustine's Catholic College, Trowbridge, came top in west Wiltshire for the number of students scoring level five or above with 92 per cent in English, 95 per cent in Maths and 88 per cent in Science.

The school also scored highly for the new value added measure for pupil improvement between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.

Headteacher Brendan Wall said: "I am very pleased with the results and especially pleased with the value added score. It is nice to do well, but at the end of the day it is the children that have put in all the work and got us these results so they need to get the praise."

In Melksham it was a different story with pupils at George Ward School showing 55 per cent in English, 61 per cent in Maths, and 61 per cent in Science at level five or above.

Headteacher Dr Pam Stoate said: "The results are not as good as we wanted but reflect the group which arrived the same time as I did.

"We realised quite quickly it would be hard work because quite a number came in with low scores.

"A package of measures has been put in place to improve things."

At Sheldon School, Chippenham, students achieved an average points score of 37.4, the school's best result. The value added mark was 101.5.

Headteacher Tony Cleaver said: "The results are a very good indicator for GCSE results in two years' time."

Results are based on the 2003 national curriculum for Key Stage 3.