Newly-released exam results for 14-year-olds show that more teenagers are getting good results in English, maths and science.

The number of pupils meeting targets in maths has risen from 76 to 71 per cent. In English, the figure rises from 67 per cent to 69 per cent and in science the pass rate was one point higher at 68 per cent.

However, the first league table to assess the quality of teaching is dominated by grammar schools.

David Miliband, schools standards minister, said: "The early years in secondary school are crucial. But they have long been the years when many pupils have drifted. It is very encouraging that our strategy to deal with this is beginning to deliver results. These are the best results we have ever had at 14."

Tim Yeo, shadow education secretary, said: "These results show that the very schools Labour has been undermining for 30 years continue to perform outstandingly well.

"Crucially these schools do best at raising the performance of all levels of pupils regardless of their ability. This calls into question the restrictions Labour places on the freedom of specialist schools to select on academic ability."

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "There are already signs that these new tables will further increase the high stakes of the key stage three tests and thus narrow the curriculum at this critical stage in a young person's development.

"The continued use of these tables means that schools are being treated like performing animals. What you test is what you get. We need to shift the focus from performance to achievement.

"Publication of stand-alone key stage three performance tables shows that ministers have learnt nothing about the perverse and damaging consequences of school league tables. We must put an end to this expensive, elaborate nonsense and start thinking about what young people really need to learn in this crucial stage of their schooling."