Education bosses have given a mixed reception to the results of standard assessment tests, taken by teenagers throughout the district this summer.

The results of key stage three exams, taken by all 14-year-olds in English, maths and science, reveal little change on last year.

Some 37 per cent of Bradford teenagers failed to reach the expected standard in English, one per cent more than last time.

And the gap between the percentage of boys and girls reaching the expected level in reading remains one of the highest in the country - at 17 per cent.

Figures show just 48 per cent of boys reached the level five benchmark, compared with 65 per cent of girls.

However, scores in maths and science improved. Across the district, 69 per cent met the expected standard in maths, up three per cent, with 61 per cent attaining the national benchmark in science, up two points.

Bradford Education Policy Partnership (EPP) member and former education portfolio holder, Councillor David Ward, (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) said the results did not reflect any real change in standards.

"What we need to look for is some pretty rapid improvements in both primary and secondary schools," he said.

"We have removed many of the excuses given for the failure of the system five years ago, including low-level funding, political interference and quality of leadership. Yet we have not really seen a step change that after five years we really need to see.

"After five years it is not a great success story."

Education Bradford managing director John Gaskin said he was pleased with the results - but stressed the scores could change when the final validated figures are released in the autumn.

He said: "We are particularly happy with the maths result, which represents a high level of performance in schools.

"On English, although we dropped a point this fall was less than the national drop of two points. However, we recognise English is a key competency which we need to improve upon."

Mr Gaskin said overall, the scores "reflected the good work that has been done and augured well for the future".

EPP chairman David Mallen said: "The results are encouraging. It really, in a sense, confirms that on the secondary side we are making good progress. A lot of the GCSE results were good but there is still a long way to go."

Bradford's results remain some way behind the national average. England-wide, some 72 per cent of 14-year-olds made the target grade in English, 77 per cent in maths and 72 per cent in science.

Schools minister Jim Knight said he was particularly concerned by the fall in English standards throughout the country - with a two point drop compared to last time.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk