A BOLTON education chief today hit back at claims that 11-year-olds are falling behind in English and maths.

Labour Cllr Don Eastwood, education committee chairman, said: "I don't think that these tables are a fair assessment of schools."

An in-depth nationwide analysis showed that children were on average two years behind schedule.

Bolton came out 61st of 107 authorities in maths and 53rd in English.

But neighbouring Bury came out as one of the best in the country - third in maths and fifth in English.

Cllr Eastwood added: "If you look at most of the authorities who come out on top in this survey, there are largely middle class areas.

"Richmond-on-Thames is first and you would expect that. Even parts of Bury are quite affluent.

"In Bolton, we have many areas where children are at a disadvantage and tables like this are not a fair reflection of what is going on in schools.

"The standards in our schools are excellent. Tables like this do not say anything about nursery education or special needs.

"They make it very unfair for teachers. Parents read stories like this in the paper and then they start thinking that their children are two years behind, which is not the case."

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