BOLTON School boys division has finished bottom of the borough's league tables - but only because of a quirk in the figures.

The tables show that only 13 per cent of the school's pupils gained five or more A* to C grades including maths and English.

But that is because of the school's decision to make its pupils sit for the new international GCSE (IGCSE) in maths, which the Government does not recognise.

Mervyn Brooker, head of Bolton School boys division poured scorn on the league tables, saying they were not an accurate reflection of schools.

He said: "The results reflect the fact that a majority of our students take IGCSE as a better preparation for A-level.

"In fact, if we include IGCSE, only one out of 135 candidates failed to gain 5 A* to C passes including maths and English.

"Unfortunately, the league tables are too narrowly defined to indicate effective education or true performance.

"These results were excellent for this cohort, given the breadth of their experience and achievements. They are well rounded young men who will go on to impress at A-Level and in the wider world."

The school's A-level results placed the boys' division among the top 200 best schools in the country.

Bolton School girls division, which chose not to adopt the new IGCSE for maths, had the best GCSE results of any school in Bolton, with a 99 per cent pass rate.

The girls division was also placed in the top 200 best performing schools in the country for its GCSE and A-level results.

Gill Richards, head of the girls' division, was also dismissive of the merits of league tables.

She said: "A school is so much more than its league table position."

View the secondary school performance tables in full here.

9:08am Thursday 10th January 2008

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