WORCESTERSHIRE schools followed the national trend in the latest batch of performance tables, with girls and comprehensives taking the top spots.

Under the new value-added system - designed to assess a school's ability to boost children's achievements regardless of intake - St Mary's Convent School, in Mount Battenhall, performed well ahead of others in Worcester, while Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC Primary, in Timberdine Avenue, led the way for non-selective schools.

Kidderminster's Holy Trinity School, with a value-added score of 103 - in the top fifth of schools nationwide - continued the strong performance of girls.

"St Mary's performance has gone from strength to strength with an impressive value added rating of 104.3 putting the school very near to the top five per cent of schools nationally, and at the forefront in Worcestershire," said headteacher Susan Cookson.

Bowbrook House School, near Pershore and The Woodrush High School, in Hollywood, north Worcestershire - completed the top five.

Girls' schools also excelled in the traditional table of exam results, with Malvern Girls' College ranked top in Worcestershire according to the average UCAS points scored per exam.

"Our results continues to demonstrate how well teenage girls can achieve in a single sex school," said headteacher Philippa Leggate.

The other girls' schools in the county - including The Alice Ottley School and St James' School, Malvern - proved the point by all ranking among the top 15 in the LEA area.

Worcestershire's Director of Education praised the attitude of schools during a tough time for county education.

"Our results have gone up for the last five years and they are above average," said Julien Kramer.

"This is a plateau, which could well relate to the dismal funding position that we continually find ourselves in, but what is clear from discussions with headteachers is that they are determined to drive up standards.

"We have schools that do an outstandingly good job and we can expect even better results in the future."

Worcester Royal Grammar School and The King's School, Worcester, were also top performers in the LEA area, while The Chase High School, in Malvern, and Hanley Castle High School, near Upton-upon-Severn, were leading comprehensives.