A FARNWORTH school is in the top quarter of schools nationally in a new type of performance table which monitors pupils' progress.

St James's CE Secondary School has been placed in the top 25 per cent in a performance table which only includes schools who have their Key Stage two - Key Stage three and Key Stage three - GCSE value added measure.

Value added looks at how much a pupil has improved between taking Key Stage two tests at 11, Key Stage three tests at 14 and finally at GCSE level.

This is the first time that value added scores have been published within the annual Secondary Performance tables.

St James's Headteacher Bob Atkinson said: "We are delighted that the hard work of staff and pupils has been recognised."

The school was ranked 312 out of all the thousands of secondaries in the country for its value added scores and was the only school in Bolton to make it into the top 25 per cent.

Mr Atkinson said they set targets for their pupils and if they are not meeting them, parents are contacted.