NEW statistics this year show the number of pupils achieving five GCSEs including maths and English in addition to simply showing their five best grades in any subject.

This was in response to concerns that league tables did not emphasise basic skills.

Because English and maths are not normally best subjects, the new figures are generally lower than the traditional score. Both sets of statistics rank the percentage of teenagers in a school getting five A* to Cs.

In Manchester, 29 per cent of students achieved good grades in three subjects and English and maths.

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Although this is an improvement on last year's figure of 26.5 per cent, the city is ranked 147th out of 150.

Education experts feared many schools had been `playing the system' by entering pupils for `easier' subjects to boost their places in the tables. The new measurement seeks to expose schools failing to teach basic literacy and numeracy.

The figures show that 45.3 per cent of pupils in England scored five C grades in their GCSEs last year in subjects including English and maths. This was far fewer than the 58.5 per cent who got five Cs in any GCSE subjects, although there were slight increases on last year under both measurements.

Although the new and traditional tables will continue to be published, officials hope that parents and schools will make increasing use of the new benchmark when looking at school's performance.

Prospects

Other information shows how schools boost the prospects for individual pupils beyond previous expectations. This is known as the Value Added score.

This figure demonstrates the progress a pupil makes from their final year at primary school to the end of their GCSEs.

The table, which also includes figures on truancy, are produced at a time when ministers are considering even more changes to the assessment system.

Education secretary Alan Johnson this week suggested that the system for measuring performance as primary and secondary schools could be overhauled.

Students are currently tested during their school lives, at the ages of seven, 11, and 14.

These tests could be replaced with a series of lighter, more frequent tests. A two-year pilot is being launched in 10 authorities which will see intelligent pupils being tested up to five times in seven years, up to the age of 14, and could pave the way for a radical reform of league tables.

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