SCHOOLS across the North have struggled to make it into the top five per cent of national performance tables for key stage three tests.

It is the first year that the results of the tests - sat by 14-year-olds in English, maths and science - have been published in the form of league tables.

Top in the region was Ripon Grammar School, North Yorkshire, which came 19th nationally.

The county performed well overall, with none of its schools appearing in the bottom five per cent nationally.

But the picture was different in parts of Teesside and Darlington.

The flagship Unity City Academy, one of the Government's new "super schools", came bottom in the Middlesbrough area and only 11th from bottom nationally.

Headteacher Eddy Brady said: "While we have made progress in the space of six months, it is unlikely that we are going to effect much change straightaway.

"Just because a city academy has been opened, it does not mean you get a quick fix."

Also in the bottom five per cent were Gillbrook Technology College, Middlesbrough, Freeborough Community College, Saltburn, St Patrick's RC Comprehensive, Stockton, St Peter's RC School, South Bank, Middlesbrough, St Hild's C of E School, Hartlepool, and Thornaby Community School.

In Darlington, two of the seven secondary schools, Branksome and Eastbourne, came in the bottom five per cent nationally.

Eastbourne headteacher Karen Pemberton said: "The GCSE results have been our priority. Clearly, we do need to make improvements on all fronts, but when you have a school that has a range of difficulties we have to target resources where they are going to have the most effect."

Howard Gilfillan, acting head of Branksome, said the school had put an action plan in place, in conjunction with Darlington Borough Council.

"We are aware of the situation and are working hard to improve it," he said.

Carmel RC Technology College came top in Darlington and in the top 25 per cent nationally, with Durham Johnston Comprehensive, which was top in County Durham.

Tables 'a kick in the teeth'

UNIONS last night condemned the expansion of league tables to cover results of 14-year-olds as a "kick in the teeth" for North schools.

They called for the tables to be scrapped, saying they did not show the full picture and put teachers and students under unnecessary pressure.

Terry Bladen, president of the NASUWT teachers' union, said: "There are an awful lot of schools in the North-East working under tremendous adversity and, instead of being able to celebrate their achievements - because they do a very good job for pupils in the areas they serve - they get a kick in the teeth."

He said tables had already been scrapped in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Elaine Kay, regional secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "The league tables are destructive and demoralising and should be scrapped."

Nationally, the proportion of 14-year-olds who reached the required standard in English rose two per cent to 69 per cent this year. In maths, it was up four per cent to 71 per cent and in science it was up one per cent to 68 per cent.