BOLTON and Bury schools have been given a good report in national performance tables published today.

Bury has come out near the top of the class in two important categories of the Audit Commission charts.

It was second of the 36 metropolitan authorities for the number of pupils who leave primary school achieving at least level four in national curriculum test results.

A total of 73pc of pupils achieved this standard. Bolton had 65pc and was 14th of the authorities. The average metropolitan performance was 62pc.

Bury was also third in the number of children achieving at least five GCSE grades A-C. There were 49pc of children achieving this, compared to an average of 35pc. Bolton was also above average with 41pc.

Bolton education authority also performed well for its speed in issuing special educational needs statements.

The council prepared 66.5pc in the 18-week deadline - a huge improvement on last year when only 38pc were completed.

The metropolitan average was 37 pc and Bury scored just over 20pc.

Spending per primary school pupil in Bolton is £1,673 - the highest in Greater Manchester. In secondary schools, the figure is £2,256.

Bury spends £1,533 per primary pupil and £2,163 for secondary pupils.

All of Bolton's 100 plus schools have meals available for full-time pupils, with just under 36 pc of pupils buying a meal - the national average is 35 pc.

But both Bolton and Bury have larger primary school class sizes than the average. There are 30 pc of classes in Bolton and 36pc in Bury with more than 30 pupils. The average is 29 pc. Bolton has 73pc of under fives in nursery places, the average is 74 pc and Bury 65 pc.

The results were welcomed by the chairmen of both education committees.

Bolton's Cllr Don Eastwood said: "Generally we seem to be around average. Some of our figures are better, but there are areas we need to look at."

Bury's chairman Cllr David Ryder added: "Once again, we have produced excellent results and our schools, their staff and pupils, should be proud."

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