BURY'S 14-year-olds continue to perform better than the national average, according to new figures.

In the core subjects of English, maths and science, local youngsters have scored higher than most in the national Key Stage 3 (SATS) tests.

Their success means Bury is the second best of the ten Greater Manchester districts and ranks in the top third of authorities nationally, and is in the top 20 per cent for science.

In English, 76 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard of Level 5. This is the same as last year, but still two per cent higher than the English average. The figure for reading was 70 per cent and for writing 78 per cent, again two points above average.

Some 78 per cent reached Level 5 in maths, up from 76 per cent last year and four per cent better than the average. And there was an even bigger improvement in science with 73 per cent making the grade, up five points from last year and above the average of 70 per cent.

However, mirroring the rest of the country, girls do 13 per cent better than boys in English, although there is only one point between them in maths and science.

The disparity is also large, at least ten per cent, in the non-core subjects of design and technology, history, geography, modern languages, art, and music. Only in PE do boys do slightly better than girls.

Councillor Maggie Gibb, executive member for children and young people, said: "I am delighted that, once again, Bury pupils have performed so well. I know how hard our pupils, schools and parents work together to achieve these results."

The Government wants 85 per cent of pupils to reach Level 5 in English and maths, and 80 per cent in science, by 2007.