A NEW drive to improve standards in English and maths at Withins School is under way.

Headteacher Phil Mather made the announcement following the publication of today's secondary school performance league tables which ranked the Breightmet school in last place in the borough.

Only 14 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades including maths and English in their GCSEs.

Mr Mather said: "The results show that the school does have to raise numeracy and literacy standards and improve maths and English results in GCSE.

"I have employed an advanced English skills teacher together with a new head of maths. We will raise the standards in these subjects.

"At this school, 58 per cent of our pupils are leaving with five A*-C GCSEs, and some of those pupils can count vocational qualifications among them.

"This, in my opinion, puts them ahead of pupils wanting to enter the same field but who are following the traditional academic route. Vocational courses are not easy GCSEs - the pupils are expected to put in a lot of work."

Mr Mather pointed to the fact that 38 per cent of pupils were achieving good grades in the two core subjects, but that percentage fell when both subjects along with at least three others had to be counted together.

In terms of value-added scores - which take into account how much progress pupils have made - Withins made the top 20 nationally.

Mr Mather said: "We are pleased with our value-added result which has shown how far the pupils have progressed through their time in this school.

"At Withins, we also put a emphasis on turning out confident, articulate and well-rounded individuals, which employers are said to be looking for more and more."