EXAMINATION results for A and AS level students in Bury are once again below the national average.

The figures, released with the 2003 Second School Performance Tables

on Thursday, place Bury 73rd out of 147 areas nationwide, based on the average point score students achieved.

The league tables show the average point score per student and the average point score per examination entry at each of the six local A/AS level institutions.

Candidates across the borough gained an average point score of 241.8. Although this is some way behind the national average of 257.8, it does show an improvement on Bury's performance for the 2002 results where it got 230.3 compared to the national average of 254.5.

Bury also trails behind the national average point score per entry with a score of 71.8 compared to 77.4.

Leading the way as far as individual achievement is concerned is Bury Grammar School (Girls) where pupils managed an average point score of 403.1. The Bridge Road school also topped the table for points per examination entry.

Headteacher Bobby Georghiou said: "'Obviously we are delighted and we are lucky in our students. They are bright and enthusiastic and respond well to good teaching. Last summer our students had a 99.5per cent pass rate with over 75 per cent of our A level grades at A or B. We are very proud of them."

Holy Cross College is celebrating being placed 11th out of more than 400 colleges nationwide with an average student score of 330.1.

Principal Mike O'Hare said: "These results represent an outstanding performance by staff and students, particularly when you take into account the fact that we have the second highest student retention rate in the country, and that we do not select our students on the basis of their academic performance at GCSE level. I am very proud of what the staff and students have achieved."

Bury College fell short of both the local and national averages for points per student and points per entry, but college principal Dr Helen Gilchrist said: "Bury College students study a wide range of academic and vocational courses. The method, which has been used to report the results in the performance tables, does not include all the level 3 qualifications and, hence, does not reflect the true levels of achievement of our students."

She also said the tables were misrepresentative because they did not take into account National Diplomas studied at the college.