Pupils' English boost but maths dips

And Key Stage 3 results reveal that, while girls continue to out-perform boys in English, reading, writing, maths and science, both trail behind national averages.

Nationally, in English the proportion of 14-year-olds achieving Level Five went up by one percentage point to 74 per cent.

In maths, achievements dropped by 1 point to a national average of 76 per cent and in science, the proportion of 14 year olds achieving Level Five increased by 1 point to 73 per cent - the highest ever level.

In Sheffield, 59 per cent of boys and 73 per cent of girls achieved Level Five or above in English, giving Sheffield average of 65 per cent.

In reading, girls scored 71 per cent and boys 57 per cent with a city average of 64 per cent. Writing saw 72 per cent of girls and 57 per cent of boys achieve Level Five or above, with a city average of 64 per cent. Maths was closer with 68 per cent of boys and 69 per cent of girls reaching Level Five, giving a city figure of 68 per cent