National school test results by Bradford teenagers are improving, education chiefs have revealed.

But the encouraging news is unlikely to prevent Serco-QAA, the company which has the contract to provide education services, from losing out on bonus payments because tough targets for Key Stage 3 pupils are unlikely to have been reached, despite improvements at many schools.

The national tests for 14-year-olds are held at the end of their Year 9 studies and cover English, maths, science and ICT.

Last year Bradford's overall scores were way below national averages. The district only managed to get 52 per cent of its pupils to Level 5 and above in English, compared with 64 per cent nationally.

In maths and science Bradford averaged 53.5 per cent and 49.5 per cent respectively, compared with national scores of 66 per cent for both.

The education service was contracted out in a radical bid to secure higher standards.

Education Bradford was given stiff targets of 63.5 per cent in English and 58 per cent in maths and science. While it is unlikely these have been met, bosses are delighted improvements have begun.

Mark Pattison, Education Bradford's managing director, said: "We do not have an overall picture of the Key Stage 2 and 3 results, but there are encouraging signs many schools are doing better than last year.

"These results show efforts being made by head teachers, staff and governors, and the support given by Education Bradford to bring about improvements, is starting to pay off. There is still a long way to go, but we are happy with the gains that have been made so far."

Phil Green, education director at Bradford Council, said: "We need to be cautious until we have the full picture, but initial suggestions are that performance has improved this year, and I would like to congratulate the schools and pupils."

Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said: "I'd like to thank everyone involved - we know there is still a long way to go, but this is a tribute to everyone involved."

Some individual schools have had great successes. The number of pupils achieving the required standard in Maths at Grange School, Great Horton, rose from 35 per cent last year to 61 per cent this year. Results at Belle Vue Boys' School rose from 27 per cent to 40 per cent in English and Belle Vue Girls' from 26 per cent to 39 per cent in science. Rhodesway has improved from 26 per cent to 39 per cent in science and 45 per cent to 56 per cent in English.