Oxfordshire pupils are continuing to perform better than the national average at the age of 14.

The results of last year's Key Stage Three tests, taken by all 14-year-olds in English, maths and science, were published yesterday.

Top of the county was Matthew Arnold School, in Botley, where 92 per cent of pupils reached Level Five or higher in English, 86 per cent in maths and 87 per cent in science.

The school had the second-highest 'value-added' score in the county, which measures how much pupils have improved since starting at the school, with pupils achieving two terms' more progress than the national average.

One of the biggest success stories was Peers School, in Littlemore - which will cease to exist at the end of the school year to make way for the city's first academy.

The percentage of students reaching the Level Five standard in English doubled from 36 per cent in 2006 to 72 per cent last year.

Maths and science test scores also rose from 51 and 47 per cent to 60 and 55 per cent respectively.

Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, saw the number of its pupils achieving Level Five in English rise by 10 per cent, although percentages in maths and science were slightly down.

But headteacher Jill Judson said the school's value-added scores - which indicated youngsters were nearly two terms ahead of their peers - were a better measure of how it was performing.

Across the county, The Warriner School, in Bloxham, was in second place overall, Langtree School, Woodcote, was third, The Marlborough School, Woodstock, was fourth, and Bartholomew School, Eynsham, was fifth.

Across Oxfordshire, 78 per cent of pupils reached the Level Five benchmark in English, five per cent above the national average. This was an increase on the county's figure of 75 per cent last year. The national average was 73 per cent last year.

In maths, 78 per cent achieved the level in the county, a drop of one per cent on the previous year.

However, the national figure also fell - from 77 per cent in 2006 to 75 per cent last year.

In science, Oxfordshire's level five figure rose slightly from 76 per cent in 2006 to 77 per cent last year. The national average in both years was 72 per cent.

Girls in the county out- performed boys in English last year, with 84 per cent of girls reaching Level Five compared with 72 per cent of boys.

Girls also did better in science - 77 per cent reaching Level Five, against 76 per cent of boys.

But boys' results in maths were better - with 79 per cent reaching Level Five, compared with 77 for girls.

For full results see localinfo.oxfordmail.net/li/