SCHOOLS in Swindon have recorded below average results in the Key Stage three performance tables released today.

Key stage three covers the ages from 12 to 14, and shows how well youngsters are performing in the three key areas of English, maths and science.

With an average score of 33.6, pupils in the borough were slightly below the national figure of 34.4.

But looked at individually, the results reveal a mixed picture, with some schools doing exceptionally well, and others lagging way behind.

Two schools Headlands and Dorcan Technology College narrowly escaped being ranked among the lowest five per cent in the country when judged on a new 'value added' measure.

This shows how much improvement pupils have made between the last Key Stage assessment at 11 and the new exams.

Less than half of all pupils at Headlands School, which was put into special measures last year, are achieving the benchmark Level 5 mark in all three subject areas.

The school showed particularly poor results for English. Just 33 per cent of pupils scoring level 5 less than half the national average of 69 per cent.

English was also Dorcan's weakest subject, with just 49 per cent of students achieving Level 5.

The tables, released for the first time this year, show that students at Highworth Warneford are top of the class, with an average score of 37.

The school just missed out being included among the top quarter in the country for improvement, with a value added score of 100.9.

Excluding special needs schools, the worst performance went to Headlands, although this may be explained by the fact that 40 per cent of its students have learning difficulties.

With an average score of just 28.9, pupils only just beat St Luke's School, which has been ranked among the best in the country in its class. It cares for pupils with behavioural problems and scored an average of 26.3.

Generally, Swindon's weakest subject appeared to be English. While the number of pupils achieving Level 5 was two per cent below the national average in both maths and science, it was five per cent down in English and in marked contrast to the rest of Wiltshire, where pupils scored an average of 35.4.

The results come just weeks after the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) released showed that primary schools in Swindon are catching up with the rest of the country, but are still below average.

Ian Hill, secretary of the Swindon branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: "I am obviously disappointed we have not reached the national average, but then against Swindon is one of the worst funded authorities in the country."

Swindon Council's education director Hilary Pitts said: "We recognise that we need to improve the standards of achievement at Key Stage 3 especially in English.

"Schools, staff and the Local Education Authority are working hard to identify and support individual pupils and groups of pupils.

"This is targeted at schools and pupils where achievement requires improvement to accelerate pupil progress.

"In partnership with parents, pupils, schools and the LEA, I am confident that we will make rapid sustainable improvement."