Who is top of the form?

HUNDREDS of pupils across the region are leaving school without basic skills in maths and English, according to GCSE tables published today.

Fewer than four in ten pupils (38.8 per cent) across Southampton's 14 state secondary schools scored at least five C grades in their GCSE subjects, including maths and English.

Meanwhile in Hampshire's state secondary schools just over half of all pupils (51.3 per cent) achieved the same benchmark.

While the county's performance is above the national average of 46.7 per cent, Southampton continues to lag behind - meaning the city once again has a lot of catching up to do, despite improving on last year.

Among the success stories was Thornden School in Chandler's Ford, ranked among the top 200 state schools nationally for its GCSE results, with 85 per cent of pupils scoring at least five C grades, including English and maths.

It was also among the 200 most improved schools in the country during the last three years.

Head teacher Dr Robert Sykes said: "Our school ethos is very important because we value every child. These are not results that reflect the nature of our intake, but they are down to the progress pupils make while they are here."

In Southampton, Redbridge Comm-unity School made it into the top 100 schools nationally for the best rate of pupil progress.

For the second consecutive year the school has scored highly for its contextual value added score - a marker of pupil progress between the ages of 11 and 16.

Head teacher Richard Schofield said: "We are absolutely delighted. It is down to the hard work of a dedicated and committed staff team with parents' support."

At the other end of the spectrum, Chamberlayne Park School in Southamp-ton was among the bottom 100 schools nationally for the lack of progress pupils make.

Head teacher Chris Kelly, who has been in post for a year, said: "We have made considerable strides and we expect 2008 to properly reflect the abilities of our youngsters. We accept that in the past standards have been unacceptable."

Southampton's Millbrook Community School was ranked among the country's bottom 200 schools for the proportion of pupils gaining five or more GCSES, including English and maths, for the second year running. Just 14 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark at the school, which is due to close next summer and be replaced by an academy.

Potential Head teacher Tony Cotton said: "These are not as good a set of results as we would like. Despite what they seem at face value, most students achieved their potential."

St Anne's School in Southampton was the top-performing state school in the city, with its best GCSE results ever.

Head teacher Beverley Murtagh said: "Success like this is no easy matter and the girls worked really hard."

High numbers of pupils bunking off lessons continues to be a problem at some schools.

For the second year running Cantell School and Oaklands Community School, both in Southampton, and Quilley School of Engineering, in Eastleigh, were among the worst 200 schools in the country for their truancy records, measured by the percentage of half-days missed.

Ruth Johnson, Cantell head teacher, said the school continued to be "rigorous" with attendance-improving initiatives.

She added: "It is important that parents work in partnership with us if we are to see the improvements needed."

St George's Catholic School in Southampton was also among the worst 200 schools for truancy - despite recording improved GCSE results.

Acting head teacher Graham Wilson said improvements were being made across the curriculum to encourage pupils to come to lessons.

Bridgemary Community Sports College in Gosport was also among the country's worst schools for truancy.

At A-level, Hampshire was ranked the 11th top-performing local authority nationally. Southampton was ranked 129th, based on the average A-level points score per candidate.

St Swithun's, Winchester College and Peter Symonds College all made it into the top 200 schools and colleges at A-level, based on average point scores.

Dr Helen Harvey, head of St Swithun's, also in the top 200 of independent and state schools nationally for GCSEs, said she was "very proud" of the school's pupils.

However, she added: "While recognising the success of our own students, I remain highly sceptical of the concept of league tables in general and in particular of giving them high importance in judging the value of individual schools."

The Independent Schools Council has criticised the tables for not including iGCSEs - a qualification favoured by many schools or students who sit exams in two separate sciences.

Commenting on Southampton's results city education boss Councillor Peter Baillie said: "While the results recognise the hard work of the students and the dedication of the staff, there is no doubt we still have a long way to go in Southampton if we want to provide an excellent education to all of our young people."

Councillor David Kirk, Hampshire County Council's executive lead member for children's services (Education), said: "It is good to see that Hampshire pupils are continuing to outperform their counterparts nationally."