TEST results have shown a mixed performance by East Lancashire seven-year-olds in learning the basics.

New figures show that fewer Blackburn and Darwen youngs-ters are attaining Level 2 in Key Stage One - which assesses reading, writing, maths and science - than across the country.

But in Lancashire County Council schools in Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, youngsters are faring better, with the number of pupils getting Level 2 exceeding the national average in reading and writing, and equalling it in maths and science.

Level 2 is regarded by the Government as the basic level needed for children to leave primary schools with a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy skills.

The results, published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families yesterday, show that numbers of pupils getting Level 2 in Blackburn and Darwen have also fallen slightly on last year in three out of four subjects, although the percentage of those youngsters attaining the higher Levels 2B and 3 has either been maintained or gone up.

Coun Chris Thayne, from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "The increase in the number of children achieving higher levels at Key Stage One is very pleasing.

"To give our young people the very best start in their education, we need to continue with efforts to close the gap with the national average."

In Lancashire, there has been no improvement on last year's performance in three subjects, and a slight drop - one per cent - in writing in Level 2 attainment, mirroring the national scene.

Across the country, reading, maths and science figures remained the same, while writing fell by one point to 80 per cent.

In another reflection of national trends, girls continue to outperform boys significantly in reading and writing in both Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire County boroughs, and are only falling slightly behind in maths and science at the Level 3 attainment.

Schools minister Andrew Adonis congratulated schools and teachers for the high attainment figures, but added: "We need to continue to push for year-on-year improvement because it is vital that all children gain a through understanding of basics."