SCHOOLS in Darlington have one of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in the North-East.

At primary and secondary levels Darlington has, respectively, the highest and second highest ratios in the region.

However, a leading councillor has said the figures can be misleading and the key element to take into account is pupils' attainment.

The figures have been published in a paper which details the changes that have taken place in the public sector in the North-East over the past ten years.

The Institute for Public Policy Research has published the audit of public sector reform in the North-East. It shows that:

l Darlington primary schools have a ratio of 23.3 pupils to teachers, compared to a regional average of 21.5;

* Secondary schools have a ratio of 16.8, with the North-East average at 16.1.

However, nursery schools have an average of 14 compared to the regional average of 19.1.

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, who chairs the council's children and young people scrutiny committee, said it was the quality of teaching that really mattered in the schools. She said: "The teacher ratio is one of the issues that the scrutiny committee is looking at.

"Some studies show that a high teacher ratio can impact upon achievement and, clearly, we're taking that very seriously.

"What we would look at first is how the ratio is affecting attainment as the first step.

"There are also teaching assistants that do a lot of work and looking at teacher-pupil ratios does not give a clear picture.

"There are other ways of support - a lot of our primary schools get a lot of support from the community."

Coun Barrie Armstrong, the Conservative spokesman for education, said: "I find it difficult to understand why, yet again, Darlington should compare so badly with our neighbours.

"There's been an appalling record of truancies and exclusions in this borough and we must suspect that the pupil-teacher ratios could be a contributory factor.

"As we urge for focus on the quality of leadership and teaching in all of our schools, this is another aspect that needs to be improved upon.

"The turnover of staff and the number of supply teachers employed are also potentially adverse factors to be addressed."