SECONDARY schools in Wharfe-dale, Aireborough and Horsforth are amongst the best performers in Leeds and Bradford.

The secondary school perform-ance tables, published today, cover more aspects of each school's performance than ever before.

And all head teachers across the area, without exception, have welcomed their school's perform-ance and paid tribute to the hard work of their pupils, teachers and parents.

Head teacher at St Mary's RC Comprehensive, in Menston, Mike Pyle said: "Firstly I should like to congratulate staff, students and parents for their efforts to ensure success at various levels in many areas of the curriculum.

"St Mary's has topped the league tables for state schools in Leeds and Bradford for a number of years, and once again 74 per cent of the year group achieving five or more A-C grades represents a splendid effort, maintaining our status.

"We are delighted that over 60 per cent of our successful Year 11 students are studying courses in St Mary's sixth form.

"Last year 94 per cent of students gained first choice university places, with four taking up places at Oxbridge.

"As for the additional information provided in this year's tables, I am not sure the figures published are able to tell the whole story about a school's performance. The sheer quality of data has resulted in some erroneous information being published and we are taking this up with DfES.

"My main concern centres around the progress measure at key stage four where the number of GCSE subjects to provide an average points total is capped at eight, rather than including all the subjects our pupils study.

"These eight subjects do not need to include mathematics, English or science, which are the very subjects that provide our very good progress measure at key stage three.

"Also, it should be recognised that using these measures, pupils achieving eight A* grades at GCSE register no value added following excellent performance in Year 9.

"St Mary's is certainly not complacent and will always strive to raise standards at every level, but if we are to raise the value added score at key stage four, assuming the goal posts remain the same, we may need to review the very extended curric-ulum currently provided and con-centrate on the best eight subjects."

Acting head teacher at Guiseley School, Keith Bothamley said: "With 15 students gaining straight 'A' grades for all their nine and ten subjects, this year group have set a level of excellence not previously experienced.

"With a pass rate of over 98 per cent and one in four passes being at A* or A grades, the students and staff were delighted with the achievements of this year's 204 Year 11 students. Clearly with the demand of coursework and exams in each subject, the students have met the challenge with deserved success.

"Overall the A* to C rate for Year 11 was 65 per cent and an average point score of 48. Both these statistics were in line with target grades set during Year 11."

Head of Year 11 at Guiseley School, Ian Whitehurst said: "Considering the high expectations placed on students throughout the last two years, they have worked exceptionally hard to achieve some outstanding results.

"We have spent an increasing amount of time giving the students more advice and guidance on their individual progress, via mentoring, study skill workshops and review days, and this has clearly paid off.

"As a year group they have gelled to become a very sociable and enterprising set of students, and they should all do well in the future."

Benton Park head teacher, Anne Clarke, said: "We were very pleased with the results this year we exceeded the target set by the governing body. It was a good year for both GCSEs and A-levels."

John Townsley, deputy head teacher of Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley, said the school was very proud of the continuing progress made by its pupils.

"We are particularly pleased with the progress shown in all areas of the school and the value that we are adding to the raising of our standards.

"The results are a measure of the continuing development in all areas of the school. We are very pleased and very proud of our students."

Steve Jex, head teacher of Horsforth School, said: "We are very pleased that the tables are showing value added and they show a trend towards continuing and sustainable improvement."

Ilkley Grammar School expects to be identified yet again as one of the top performing comprehensive schools nationally, with 73 per cent of their students achieving five or more A* - C grades at GCSE.

This ensured the school retained its position in the top flight over the last few years, where results have consistently been above 70 per cent.

Key Stage 3 results in Science, English and Mathematics were similarly outstanding - 94 per cent of students achieving level 5 or better in English, and 86 per cent in both Science and Maths. National averages are 67% in all three subjects.

Gilliam James, the head teacher, is delighted with the recognition of the school as high performing, but sounds a note of caution.

"Performance tables cannot give a full picture and any very good school is about individual students' achieving and not just about statistics.

"We value all achievement, sometimes from a very modest base, and we celebrate, too, student success in sports and the arts, in community and school service, and not just in terms of academic results.

"We should be about 'education with character' not just scoring points."