A REDDITCH headteacher is urging parents to look beyond Government league tables when choosing a school for their child.

Peter Woodman, head at Arrow Vale High School, made the comments following the publication of the secondary school league tables on Thursday.

"What a school does for its students cannot be summarised into a neat league table.

"Good schools are more than just getting results. They are about helping our children develop into responsible and caring individuals. This can never be reflected in a league table," he said.

The tables reveal the percentage of students achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE level in 2005, along with the average point score for AS and A Levels. A "value added" figure is also given to measure the amount of progress a student has made.

Thirty-four per cent of pupils at the Green Sward Lane school achieved the benchmark for GCSEs, compared to the national average of 56.3 per cent.

But Mr Woodman added: "A selective grammar school may have a headline figure in a league table of 100 per cent five A* to C at GCSE and parents assume students are doing well.

"As grammar schools are selective they should be getting these results. This figure does not tell how well students have progressed.

"What is more important is how well schools are developing students or "adding value".

"Too often this information is missed. The best schools are those where individual schools help students make great progress."

Meanwhile, at Trinity and Woodrush High schools, 46 per cent of students achieved five GCSEs, while at Kingsley College 49 per cent of pupils reached this level.

St Augustine's fared the best in the town with 71 per cent of pupils attaining five GCSEs.

Headteacher Yvonne Brennan put the school's success down to hard work of staff and students. The Hunt End school were also celebrating its best A and AS Level performances.

Over at Studley High School, 60 per cent of students attained the GSCE benchmark.