A SOUTHAMPTON MP has called on the city council to improve schooling in the city in light of poor league table results.

Yesterday the Daily Echo revealed that hundreds of Southampton pupils are leaving without basic skills in maths and English.

Now Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has appealed to the council to show "vision and leadership" to raise standards.

The latest GCSE league tables, published yesterday, showed that fewer than four in ten pupils leave Southampton's state secondary schools with five GCSE passes including English and maths.

In Hampshire just over half of school leavers gained five or more A* to C grades including English and Maths.

Nationwide, Southampton was ranked as 121 out of 150 areas.

The council said that by achieving the city's best ever results they the steady progress.

Councillor Ann Milton, Cabinet member for children's services and learning, was unavailable for comment.