NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy

Teaching unions have attacked new primary school league tables.

The tables, which aim to show the "value added" improvement each school makes to children's education, are still not an accurate reflection of achievement, the National Union of Teachers said.

The bid to give a more rounded picture of primary school performance was slammed for adding to the pressure on staff and pupils with more red tape and testing.

Value added measures were added to the tables in response to calls for data that took into account the social disadvantage of school intakes.

But NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said the tables still fostered a winners and losers culture among schools that looks at test results alone.

"The government's continuing attachment to performance tables is incomprehensible," he said.

"Value-added tables shuffle the winners and losers without addressing the flaws behind the tables in the first place.

"A school can receive a glowing inspection report and yet be at the bottom of the tables.

"The tables do not tell anyone about the quality of education provided in a school."

Ministers have defended the move towards fairer tables and said the results showed the improvements being made in English schools.

The government maintains that providing accurate information on a range of performance indicators is essential for parents in choosing schools.

"We have always said that we will listen to the views of heads, teachers and parents about how the performance tables can provide a more comprehensive and rounded picture of school performance," school standards minister David Miliband said.

"Including value added information does just that. It shows the rates of progress that children make between seven and 11 in different schools.

"The value added results show the outstanding achievements of many schools whose pupils have made excellent progress.

"We want to celebrate the achievements of those schools."