MP DAVID Chaytor has condemned "crude" school league tables which ignore the successes of less able students.

He singled out the achievements of pupils at Elms Bank High School and said it was "demoralising" for youngsters that they didn't appear in the tables.

While praising all Bury schools, Mr Chaytor told Parliament that GCSE and A-level tests do not reflect the work that schools do in helping children with learning disabilities or those from deprived backgrounds.

"I am particularly concerned that the work of special schools is simply not recognised in the existing league tables," said the MP for Bury North.

"I recently visited Elms Bank and was very impressed by the work they are doing with a wide range of children with special needs. "The school has established a system of Certificates of Achievement for 16 and 18-year-olds, but they appear nowhere in the tables. That is demoralising for the school and disheartening for the pupils."

Mr Chaytor demanded a new system which measured the progress of all pupils, not just the brightest, which encompassed sporting and musical activities, pastoral care and links with the community.

"This is not a question of sour grapes," said the MP, pointing out that Bury schools were consistently in the top ten under the existing league tables. He said they might perform even better under a broader and better system.

In reply, school standards minister Jacqui Smith congratulated Bury schools on their achievements and said the Government was keen to set up a system of fairer league tables.

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