BEHIND the headlines about school results there is often a different story.

The raw data showing the percentage of pupils gaining A* to C results does not always give the full picture.

That is why the figures released today offer particularly interesting reading. In fact, they almost turn the traditional league tables on their head and show schools often towards the bottom of the rankings leading the way in improvement.

Of course, it will also provide a renewed impetus to the debate about whether single-sex education produces better results than mixed-sex schools.

The true answer is that the results of St Birinus and Didcot Girls’ School are probably down to far more complicated reasons than the mix of their pupils.

The leadership of headteachers, each year group’s individual cohorts and the social make-up of the catchment area probably have far more impact.

Obviously schools with a high achievement rate will find it harder to make dramatic improvements.

But after David Cameron accused some Oxfordshire schools of coasting, it is important to look at exactly which schools are making improvements and how.

In many ways, this is the most important measure of the success of our schools there is.