Huge efforts to drive up standards in Bradford schools have failed to achieve any improvement in results for 11-year-olds, new figures show.

The scores in Key Stage 2 tests taken by primary pupils in May are exactly the same as a year ago.

In Science, only 79 per cent reached the expected Level 4 standard, compared to a national average of 86 per cent, leaving the district fifth from bottom in the national league tables. In English, Bradford is 16th from bottom and in Maths, 13th from bottom.

In all three subjects, Bradford's scores are all well short of the national average, with a stubborn gap of seven percentage points. Overall the district appears to be ranked 139th out of 150 LEAs, although the exact position will not be known until later this year.

Today schools chief Councillor David Ward said the static performance was "not good enough" and said questions would be asked of Education Bradford, the Council's private partner brought in two years ago to drive up standards. It won its record-breaking £360 million contract by promising to haul low-performing Bradford up to the national average by 2005.

Last year it appeared to have made a big stride when Bradford's Key Stage 2 score jumped from 201 to 213, moving it ten places up the league table.

Coun Ward, executive member for education, said: "This isn't good enough. We all know that. The aim is to narrow the gap and we are looking for year-on-year improvements. We need to carry out a review, find out what needs to be improved and make it happen."

Mark Pattison, managing director at Education Bradford, said: "We are disappointed with the Key Stage 2 results, but are really pleased with the progress made in other key stages."