PRIMARY school Maths and English results in Swindon have improved in spite of the Government's failure to meet its own national exam targets.

The results of tests for 11-year-olds show that 72.8 per cent of Swindon pupils achieved the standard expected of their age in English.

This figure is one percent up on last year.

Maths results have improved even more, with 70.3 per cent achieving the standard three per cent up on last year.

In spite of these encouraging signs, Swindon's results are slightly below this year's national average.

They are also below targets set by the then Education Secretary David Blunkett five years ago.

He said he wanted 80 per cent of 11-year-olds to reach expected levels in English and 75 per cent in Maths by the year 2002.

But newly-released official figures show that only 75 per cent of primary school children around the country reached the target in English and 73 per cent in Maths.

Liden Primary School headteacher Paul Kohn, who also chairs the Swindon Association of Primary Schools, said: "Swindon schools have done brilliantly, especially after all the problems the authority not the schools has had. It is down to a lot of hard work.

"We are well on the way of getting above average results and meeting targets.

"Teachers have worked towards teaching children how to sit these tests, which can also limit learning and understanding.

"There are certain facts and skills children need to know but these tests are only an indicator.

"I am not surprised the national targets were not met because they were ridiculous.

"I think it was a hope rather than a practical figure."

The tests, which are taken by pupils in May, are commonly known as SATs, which stands for Standard Assessment Tests.

Andrew Nye, head of Seven Fields Primary School, said: "Swindon's progress has been a small but significant increase while the national results seemed to have stood still.

"It's much better to move on than stand still, obviously, so we are closing the gap.

"I think all schools have worked hard and I am pleased the results have come this far.

"The results are to do with better teaching and better learning but I wouldn't want schools to be judged solely on SATs.

"It also has to do with teaching examination technique to kids that are not used to taking tests."