This week's league tables are good news for affluent parents able to send their children to fee-paying schools, and for children judged at 11 worthy of a place in one of the borough's grammar schools.

While those children's individual achievements should not be tainted by the politics of such a system, it is easy for the achievements of state comprehensives to be ignored.

But the fact is 15 comprehensives have increased the number of pupils leaving with five or more GCSE's grade A*-C -- a remarkable achievement for all those involved. This includes the council, teachers, and of course the children themselves.

Unfortunately, there are schools which have not matched or improved on last year's performance and it is these schools which will require even more support.

Anne Jarvis, the council's education committee chairman, has acknowledged schools' achievements but at the same time has vowed to do battle with complacency.

This must be viewed as a welcome sign to all parents concerned.

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