RESULTS at the district's schools improved last year but still remain “well below” national averages, a new report warns.

In the past academic year the number of primary schools producing results the Government deems below standards fell from 23 to 14, while GCSE results have risen slightly.

Educational Standards in 2015 brings together GCSE and key stage two results, early years development and standards in phonics, reading and maths.

“Comparisons with statistical neighbours indicate that Bradford may have gained some marginal ground on some local authorities. However, standards remain well below the regional and national average,” the document says.

In early years, the percentage of pupils achieving the ‘good level of development’ performance measure increased from 55 per cent of children last year, to 62 per cent this year. The national average is 66 per cent.

However, the report says the performance of boys from deprived backgrounds is “very low and needs urgent improvement”.

At key stage two the number of schools falling below the Government-set floor standard fell from 23 schools to 14 schools. Falling beneath the floor standard can mean a school is a target for forced academisation.

The proportion of primary school pupils achieving level four or better in reading, writing and maths rose from 73 per cent to 74 per cent, compared to a national average of 80 per cent.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the executive member for education on Bradford Council, said improvements in primary schools were welcome but there was more to do.

“We are supporting our schools to work more closely together than ever before so that they routinely share best practice and give all children in the district the best possible education,” she added.

Cllr Debbie Davies, the Conservative spokesman for education, said: “Nothing is going to happen overnight, gradual improvements like this are probably the best we can hope for.

“The good thing about reports like this is that sometimes you hear how things are getting better, but they’re just words that don’t mean anything to a lot of people. It is much more useful when you can see figures.”

The leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, said: “By bringing together these results I think it masks underachievement. I welcome seeing it in the public domain, but it is worrying.”

GCSE results have not been finalised, but provisional figures show the number of pupils achieving an A* to C grade rose slightly, by 0.1 per cent. At 44.1 per cent, the figure is well below the national average of 55.6 per cent.

The report adds: “Bradford’s outcomes are likely to place it at or near the bottom of the regional table.”