A HEADTEACHER warned parents last night : Don't just judge us on "crude" exam results.

Ruby Hussain told an open evening for prospective pupils at Beardwood High School, Blackburn: "This is fraught with danger when you are comparing schools. Be careful."

But she added that in national tests her pupils were achieving beyond what had been expected of them.

"At Beardwood, we provide the full, broad and balanced curriculum -- but we go a stage further in the area of developing the whole child," she said.

"It's crucial that we equip our pupils with the skills and knowledge to fit into a plural society: a society where they are secure in what they believe in and have respect for their neighbour."

Mrs Hussain pointed out that boys and girls were taught separately for most of their lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9.

"There has been much research done in single-gender teaching and it is not unique to this school.

"I have read of successful practice in all-white schools, too," she added.

Internal monitoring of single-sex teaching at Beardwood had been backed by research undertaken by Manchester University.

"The research involved discussions with parents, pupils, staff and governors. Questionnaires were also completed by staff, parents and governors," Mrs Hussain said. Now, governors had asked her to review and refine the teaching.

"I'm excited about looking at ways forward," she said. "At Beardwood, we have set out our stall as a friendly, welcoming establishment, built on relationships founded in mutual respect and with the clear common aim of the well-being and ultimate achievements of each young person."