Two Keighley schools have suffered another blow in a new league table.

Greenhead school ranks 22nd out of 24 schools in the Bradford district and Oakbank grant maintained school is 18th in the survey published by The Observer newspaper which is based on previously unreleased information.

It claims to take into account the number of pupils with special educational needs, those who have English as a second language and those who take free school meals. Fifth in the local tables is Keighley's Holy Family Roman Catholic secondary school.

Only last week Government figures revealed that Greenhead's truancy levels had almost doubled in a year - from 2.7 per cent to 4.3 per cent - putting it among the worst 200 schools in the country.

Oakbank was also branded as a school with truancy problems, although it had made a marginal improvement over the year - from 3.6 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

Greenhead School chairman of Governors, Labour Councillor Andy Mudd, said: "Pitting school against school in terms of figures like this is really rather crude. A school should be judged on how it helps each individual child fulfil their capabilities. Tables like this are demoralising for the children but we will be taking note and having a look."

Mark Curtis, Oakbank's chairman of governors, said: "We take all the tables seriously and Oakbank has taken initiatives to tackle the different areas."

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