THE Key Stage 3 tests in secondary schools.

The Key Stage 3 performance tables show how 14-year-olds fared in national tests in English, Maths and Science. The standard required by the Government is level five.

Canon Slade at Bradshaw Brow tops a league table of schools in the Bolton local education authority area based on the aggregate percentage of pupils achieving level five in English, Maths and Science.

It was the only school in the borough to achieve 90 per cent or over in any of the three subjects. Today, the headteacher, the Rev Peter Shepherd, said: "At Canon Slade we have many bright students, but what is impressive about these results is that it shows the fantastic achievement by students of all abilities.

"The hard work of all the students alongside the excellent teaching standards of the staff have given us great cause for celebration. With these results our present Year 10 pupils are on target in 2005 for the best GCSE results in the school's history."

Overall, Bolton's Key Stage 3 percentages are marginally lower than the national average across all three subjects.

In Maths, 70 per cent of youngsters achieved level five and in English 68 per cent. In both subjects this was just one per cent below the national average.

But in Science, the 65 per cent figure was three per cent below the national average.

Bolton has been ranked 80th out of 150 local education authorities nationally, based on the percentages.

Bury is in 26th place, Wigan is 67th and Salford is 132nd.

The tables also include a Value Added measure -- based on the progress of individual pupils between Key Stage 2 tests at the age of 11 and the Key Stage 3 tests at 14. Little Lever School has seen the greatest progress in Bolton, while Canon Slade came second.

Independent schools are not included in the Key Stage 3 performance tables.