LOCAL private schools have gone to the front of the class followed closely by the selective grammars in this year's secondary school league tables, which are published today.

The "value added" score in the tables from Key Stage 2 to 4 is the new darling in educational circles, and refers to the improvement a school has made to a child's performance between ages 11-16.

But the new figures also show that secondaries in Bournemouth are below the national average and lowest locally when it comes to the percentage of youngsters notching up five or more grades at A* to C, as well as their average point score at age 16 and then at 18.

Top of the value added mark in Bournemouth is private school Wentworth College with the grammar BSG coming second.

Wentworth director of studies Colin Hancock said: "Value added continues to be a main strength and feature of our results.

"One girl in particular achieved an average of three grades better per subject than her predicted grades. We're talking an average from E to B in virtually everything."

Bournemouth School for Girls head Alistair Brien said: "As a grammar school you'd expect us to do well at GCSE and A-level. These latest statistics are particularly pleasing because they show that we are nevertheless making a real difference to our pupils."

In Poole there's more of the same with Uplands top of the list and Parkstone Grammar second.

Uplands head Linda Shah said: "We are always happy to celebrate the recognised achievements of our pupils and our dedicated and hard-working team of staff, but we are particularly delighted to receive this welcome confirmation of the added value which the quality of education at Uplands offers individuals.

"These results are down to teamwork between home and school and I would like to thank all staff, parents and pupils for helping us to achieve these outstanding positions in the league tables."

Head teacher at Parkstone Grammar, Anne Shinwell, said: "We're delighted because I think performance indicators containing value added are particularly pleasing.

"Value added accepts our intake includes the brightest girls in the area, yet we still manage to add value. For us that's so important."

The statistics overall do show a worrying failure of Bournemouth schools at Key Stage 4.

In Dorset, Twynham School in Christchurch is joint second in the Echo's readership area.

Head Dr Terry Fish said: "We are delighted of course. The value added score is a better way of showing performance.

"But it's only an indicator because it's only based on maths, English and science and not all the other dimensions in a good school curriculum."

A Bournemouth LEA spokesman said: "Schools have worked hard to get more students achieving 5 A*-G and 1 A*-G grades.

"This has resulted in an improvement rate which places Bournemouth within the top 10 per cent of most improved authorities for these indicators.

"Building on the strengths of our 14-19 strategy noted in the recent inspection of Children's Services in Bournemouth, we are however continuing to drive up the attainment of 16-year-olds.

"We are specifically targeting boys' attainment, providing support for course work and study skills. We are continuing to increase the range of vocational options available to students while getting a good balance with academic focus.

"In order to improve the progress students make between the ages of 14 and 16 we are mirroring the successful improvement strategies used at the earlier stages of secondary education, in key stage 4."

Cllr Claire Smith, lead member for Children's Services, said: "I am especially pleased that there has been a decrease this year in the number of students leaving without a qualification.

"We now need to make sure that our 16-year-olds do as well at school as our 14-year-olds. I am delighted to see that in the national funding settlement Bournemouth schools will be receiving some additional funding to support the achievements of this age group."

Dorset County Council Cabinet member for children's services Toni Coombs described the results as excellent. She said:

"It is wonderful news that more of our young people are achieving qualifications and higher grades, helping them to achieve in the job market or further education."

Harry Turner, Dorset County Council head of pupil and school improvement, said: "We are not complacent - we want to look forward and continue to improve. Strategies are already in place to increase achievement further in 2006."

* See today's Echo for the tables