The government has welcomed the latest set of exam results figures.Data published by the Department for Education showed that schools "facing challenging circumstances" improved by 2.8 per cent in the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades compared to a 1.3 per cent increase nationally.

Meanwhile, a study prepared by the Specialist Schools Trust, indicates that specialist schools outperformed non-specialist schools by 9 per cent in 2003.

David Miliband, schools standards minister, said: "The GCSE/GNVQ results show that we are making steady upward progress in the numbers gaining five or more passes at grades A* to C.

"I am particularly pleased that those schools facing some of the toughest education challenges in the country have improved at double this rate. There are now 114 schools gaining less than 20 per cent five good GCSEs compared to 361 in 1997.

"The introduction of the value added measure into school performance data has given parents a fuller picture on the performance of their child's school.

"The government is showing our commitment to the value added measure by extending it further with the publication today of a pilot table showing value added measure for pupils between 11 and 16.

"I am pleased with the developments in vocational education making it possible for students to combine academic and vocational education to suit their individual abilities and interests. This will be developed further this summer when the first students take the new vocational GCSE exams.

"The excellent set of A Level results are testament to the hard work of schools and teachers across the country. But there is still more to be done to encourage more young people to continue in education after GCSE/GNVQ level to address the fact that by the age of 17 we have the fourth highest drop-out rate of any OECD country."

Tim Yeo, shadow education secretary, said: "The government is still leaving hundreds of our most vulnerable pupils behind.

"Conservatives would scrap the interfering national targets meaning that schools and Local Education Authorities would be able to better focus their energies with regard to local need.

"We need teacher's deciding what is best for their pupils, not civil servants in Whitehall."

Phil Willis, education spokesman, said: "The government's brave attempt to spin the latest GCSE league table is a desperate effort to justify a redundant target.

"The claim that specialist schools are the answer to driving up standards requires serious investigation. The main criterion for obtaining specialist status was that schools were improving - hardly surprising therefore, that they did improve.

"The performance tables fail to show that the lack of viable alternatives to GCSEs still means that 50% of our students are failing to get the vocational education they deserve.

"Rather than ministers crowing about success, they should hang their heads in shame over their failure to address student needs."

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

Doug McAvoy, general secretary, said: "Even through the distorted medium of league tables, the message that comprehensive education works come through loud and clear.

"Despite all the advantages enjoyed by selective and private schools, teachers in comprehensive schools are clearly making that crucial difference to children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

"We do not need league tables to illustrate that obvious fact. The annual snap shot of the league tables conceals more than it exposes of the achievements of our comprehensive schools."

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary, said: "School performance tables are profoundly demotivating for our most vulnerable children and schools. ATL believes that league tables leads schools to treat young people who have no chance of achieving the magic grade C as a lower priority.

"ATL has frequently stated its opposition to performance league tables and feel it is an elaborate and expensive nonsense. It tells us nothing about the overall standards of achievement in schools and does nothing to support teaching and learning. But our opposition to league tables does not extend to denigrating the excellent work done by teachers in our schools.

"It is interesting to note that value-added measures are showing comprehensive schools are performing well and are increasing the life-chances of their students by giving them a good education.

"ATL wants to celebrate success wherever it is achieved but league tables are not the way to do it."

Forum Response: Specialist Schools Trust

Sir Cyril Taylor, chief executive, said: "Specialist schools widened their better performance over non-specialist schools from 7 points in 2002 to 9 points in 2003 despite the fact that a third of the 938 schools have only been in the programme for one year and that the intake of ability for specialist and non-specialist schools is broadly similar.

"We are delighted by this success and pay tribute to the dedicated teachers and staff of specialist schools who have worked so hard to raise their standards."