REDDITCH high schools must do better, says Jacqui Smith following the publication of the latest performance tables.

The schools minister and town MP was commenting on Redditch's performance in the Key Stage Three league tables, which were published on Thursday.

Ms Smith said: "Overall, the figures for Redditch are okay but they show we still face challenges in some areas."

The tables detail the percentage of 14-year-old students in high school achieving at least the benchmark of Level Five in the three core subjects, English, maths and science following routine Standard Assessment Tests (SATs).

In England, an average of 74 per cent of pupils reached the required Level Five in maths and English, while 70 per cent achieved that level in Science.

Top of the class in Redditch was Woodrush High School, Wythall, where 91 per cent of pupils made the grade in English, 82 in maths and 76 in Science.

St Augustine's High School also exceeded the national average with 83 per cent of students on target in maths and English and 87 per cent in science.

Meanwhile, Arrow Vale pupils performed less well, notching up scores of 66 per cent in English, 64 in maths and 59 in science.

However, Ms Smith said that because of the middle school system in Redditch, pupils take the tests after only one year in high school, compared to two years in other areas.

She then added: "I am sure that high schools, middle schools, parents and pupils will continue to do their best to ensure that they build on these Key Stage Three results.

"They are a good marker for what our schools need to do to ensure that GCSE results are as good as possible and in recent years the trend for GSCEs has been for improvements across the town."