A LEIGH high school gained above average GCSE results -- even though nearly half the students had special educational needs.

School performance league tables showed 91 per cent of students gained five or more A* to G passes in 2001 at Westleigh High School, Leigh, even though 45.8 per cent of the school's candidates had special educational needs -- one of the highest percentages in the borough.

Across the Wigan and Leigh Education Authority the average score for five or more passes at A* -- G was 90.6 pc while nationally there was a 88.9 pc pass rate.

For at least five GCSE passes at Grades A* to C, the borough's average score was 47.1 pc, slightly below the national average of 50 pc.

Westleigh was one of only four schools in the borough to get 100 pc of pupils gaining at least one GCSE pass.

Headteacher John Pout said: "We serve this community and will take anybody -- regardless of their ability.

"For the first time in the school's history next year we will be full and over-subscribed with first choice preferences. That shows what the community thinks of this school."

The percentage of Westleigh pupils achieving five GCSEs from grades A* to C has shot up by 33 pc from 18 pc in 2000 to 24 pc this year.

However the tables showed the school had the highest truancy rate with 4.3 pc.

But Mr Pout insisted the school was well attended with 90 pc attendance in the autumn term, a rise of six pc since 1997.

Lowton High School was shown to be the third highest performing school in the borough with 62 pc of students gaining A* -- C passes. Fourteen pc of the Lowton students had special educational needs. Wigan's Deanery High School came top with 66 pc.

Lowton headteacher Sue Crosdale said: "We are absolutely delighted. When the year group arrived in school they were not exceptional.

"But they have given so much to the school, and not just academically. They, and the staff have worked really, really hard. They have done themselves more than justice."

Tony Colley, headteacher of Fred Longworth High School, said their results "highlighted the continuing improvement of Fred Longworth High School".

At the school 59 pc of the 222 GCSE candidates gained five or more A* to C grades, while 96 pc achieved five or more A* to G passes.

Mr Colley said: "It's no coincidence that our emphasis on the core values of behaviour, respect, good teaching and hard work has resulted in a rise from 35 pc to almost 60 per cent of students gaining five good grades at GCSE over this period."

He added there was a real "buzz" about the school.