education chiefs believe more support for Basingstoke's schools could be the answer to improving their success.

The latest Department for Education and Skills league tables, published last week, show that the majority of the borough's schools fell below both county and national averages for last summer's GCSE achievements.

As reported in The Gazette on Thursday, seven secondary schools in the borough failed to meet the Hampshire average of 60.9 per cent of GCSE pupils achieving at least five A* to C grades. The England average was 57.1 per cent.

And the results have prompted local education representatives to take steps to address the situation.

Councillor George Hood (pictured), Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cabinet member for employment, skills and learning, said: "Like everyone else who is proud of Basingstoke, I would like to see our schools perform a bit better.

"However, league tables do not tell the entire story. I often feel they can do more harm than good and that sometimes they do a disservice to schools where staff and pupils work extremely hard.

"We, as a borough council, should look at ways and means that we can better support some of the schools so they can at least equal the Hampshire average, if not achieve higher than that.

"I am optimistic that things will improve."

Local schools that fell below the 2005 average were Aldworth Science College, Costello Technology College, Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, Fort Hill Community School, John Hunt of Everest Community School, The Vyne Community School and The Hurst Community College.

As a result, Hampshire County Council has also said it is committed to improvement in the borough.

Cllr David Kirk, the county's executive member for education, said: "It is not just Basingstoke that has fallen below the average - other places, such as Andover, are in a similar situation.

"It's terribly difficult making comparisons like these when results are dependent on individual cohorts, and you get good year groups and bad year groups.

"We have to consider how pupils have improved.

"It is also important to remember that three or four GCSEs at grade D or E, or success in a single subject, can represent a significant achievement for some pupils."

Cllr Kirk said the county council is already addressing the fact that John Hunt of Everest Community School, in Popley Way, Popley, was the tenth worst in the country for A* to C grades last year.

He said: "We want to concentrate on John Hunt over the next two to three years and we want to see what additional support we can give the school.

"We are actively talking to staff and governors about this.

"The move to the new premises is one thing that will make a considerable difference to the attitude of learning at the school."

First published: Monday, January 23, 2006