TEENAGERS in Lancashire are continuing to perform above the national average.

Figures published yesterday show that schools in the Lancashire County Council authority area are achieving Key Stage Three results slightly above or equal to the national average, despite seeing a slight drop in some subjects.

Key Stage Three tests are the national curriculum assessments for 14-year-olds in English, maths, reading, writing, and science and are regarded as an important predictor for GCSE results.

The government aims to have students attaining Level Five, though a proportion achieve Level Six.

In Lancashire, results of Level Five attainment showed an improvement in English and reading, but a drop in writing and maths, reflecting the national figures - maths has dropped by one per cent, while science and English rose by one point.

Numbers of pupils attaining Level Five in science remains the same, but the number of 14-year-olds achieving Level Six or above in almost all the core subjects have fallen in Lancashire, as they have nationwide.

In another reflection of a national trend, girls in Lancashire continue to out-perform boys in almost every area, with the most stark contrast in English, reading and writing, with as much as a 12 per cent difference.

County Coun Vali Patel, the cabinet member for schools, said: "I am very pleased to see that the results either match or exceed the national averages.

"The new curriculum next year will give teachers more flexibility to help students who are at risk of falling behind on the basics, as well as stretching those who do well.

"However, such results are only one way of measuring the very hard work that goes on in our county's diverse schools, both by teachers and pupils.

"I congratulate everyone for their achievements, particularly those who have worked hard to improve their own performance."

Schools minister Jim Knight said: "Whilst I'm disappointed to see a drop in maths and writing, it's important to put this into context. The overall trend remains upwards and there have been dips in the past that have been quickly reversed."

He added that more needed to be done to raise standards.