THE progress of children aged between 11 and 14 at 17 schools in East Lancashire is above the national average.

Value added measure is said to give a more comprehensive and rounded picture of school performance.

It is based on the progress of pupils between Key Stage 2 - Year 6 at primary school and Key Stage 3 - Year 9 at secondary school.

It is calculated by comparing pupils' performances between both key stages.

The individual scores are then averaged-out to give a score for the school which is represented as a number based around 100 which indicates the "value" that schools have "added" on average for the pupils.

Seventeen schools across the region achieved scores higher than 100 in this week's Key Stage 3 tables.

Martin Morris is headteacher at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School which had the best value added measure score - 102.4 - in East Lancashire.

He said the scores represented how the pupils had progressed, rather than looking just at the marks they received.

He said: "Our score of 102.4 means that the children are nearly two-and-a-half terms ahead of what they should be and we are very pleased by that."

Maurice Graham, headteacher of Bowland High School, Clitheroe, which had a score of 101.1, said: "The tables are very confusing for parents as the difference between the schools seems negligible. However, I am pleased we have done very, very well."

David Whyte, of St Wilfrid's CE High School and Technology College, Blackburn, which had a score of 100.9 said: "I am delighted that we are one of the highest performing non-selective schools in the area, especially as we have been on a building site for the last two years."

Debbie Hill, headteacher at Walshaw High School, Burnley, which had a score of 101, said: "We are delighted that the progress Walshaw students make has been recognised in the latest school performance tables.

"By comparing students results' with their performance at primary school, it enables us to get a good picture of how successful we are. It also ensures that a child with special needs has their progress valued just as much as the high-flyers who go on to university."