PRIMARY school leavers in Blackburn and Darwen were among the brightest in Britain this year, according to official figures.

A big increase has been recorded in the number of 11-year-olds from the borough who are reaching the level expected of them in national tests.

Results across the country have shown improvements in English and maths, but Blackburn's aggregate improvement of 21 per cent is higher than almost everywhere else.

It means nearly 500 more children are reaching the national expectation of level four or better in English, maths and science.

And many individual schools in the borough are celebrating big improvements in their results this year with some achieving gains of between 20 and 33 per cent in English and between 20 and 44 per cent in maths. An independent panel has investigated and dismissed claims that standards had been lowered across the country to improve results. Coun Mahfooz Hussain, chairman of the council's school standards committee said: "I am pleased to see that the council's implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategies is already beginning to make a difference to standards in schools.

"This rapid improvement means the council is well placed to achieve its ambitious target for the year 2000 set at 72 per cent for English and 67 per cent for maths.

"More importantly, this year's results quite clearly show that Blackburn with Darwen education authority and its schools are making a difference for pupils. Teachers and children should be congratulated for their excellent efforts this year.

"However, there is no room for complacency and we need to build upon these positive improvements and ensure that standards are raised for all pupils whatever their ability."

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