English results improved by three per cent on the previous year's efforts, while pass rates in science rose by a single percentage point.

But maths scores fell by two per cent - leaving the city 22 per cent behind the overall national average for the three key subjects.

And Sheffield teenagers are being left behind by their contemporaries in neighbouring authorities - they now trail behind Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley.

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A recent across the board improvement in Barnsley's schools was maintained with a solid nine per cent advance in English, maths and science, allowing the town to overtake Sheffield for the first time.

Rotherham's results were up by nine per cent, compared with Doncaster up by one per cent and Sheffield by two.

Nationally that leaves Sheffield in 125th place out of 150 English local authorities - well ahead of the lowly 147th place managed by primary pupils in 2007.

Rotherham has the top local county ranking at 110th place, with Doncaster at 112 and Barnsley moving up from 133 to 118th spot.

Individual Sheffield schools produced a mixed bag of results.

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The most improved secondary was Parkwood High, where scores rose by an overall 35 per cent in the three key subjects - although the school is still one of five in the bottom 200 list nationally.

At City School - currently on the failing blacklist - results were 21 points up on 2006, while Wisewood, set to be merged in three years time, saw its scores up by an overall 20 per cent. Fir Vale continued its rise with a hefty 31 point improvement.

But there were slumps too - Yewlands saw its pass rates fall by 26 points, while All Saints was down by 22 and Newfield fell by 20.

The results also show there is still much work to be done at one of Sheffield's two new City Academies - Springs had the city's lowest pass rates and is ranked 12th from bottom nationally.

Park - the former Waltheof School - did much better and is 52 points ahead of its sister institution.

Paul Makin, Sheffield's acting executive director of children's services, admitted the picture was mixed but said there were also encouraging signs."Our priority is that every child should make the best progress they can. We have systems in place now that are carefully tracking each pupil's individual progress," he said.

"Over the years to come these systems will produce greatly improved results and we will see their impact. We're also very pleased that at last our boys are catching up with the girls, which has been a national issue for some time," Mr Makin added.

Authority analysts have found the achievement gap between boys and girls has shrunk sharply in maths and English after the issue was made a priority by many schools.

Coun Harry Harpham, Sheffield's cabinet member for children's services, said he was tremendously proud that evidence of success was being seen in the authority's work to raise attainment.

He added: "We are seeing young people from all our communities do well, and the gap between the attainment of white students and those from ethnic minority communities is closing, which is great news.

"Improving achievement at all key stages is one of the council's highest priorities, and we are looking very carefully at these results to help us plan how best to support the schools who still need to raise their game.

"We won't let up until we see every single young person in the city getting the best possible teaching and support."

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