LEAGUE table success is nice - but it's not the be all and end all, say York school heads.

Head teachers at city schools celebrating high rankings in the latest exam-based survey say though it is gratifying, there is more to school life than academic achievement.

On Monday, the Evening Press reported that Fulford School was York's best-placed state secondary school in a nationwide list compiled by the Sunday Times, ranking 320th.

Almost half of all A-level students at the school scored A or B grades, and 27 per cent of GCSEs were at A* or A grades. All Saints RC School came in just behind, at 331st.

Fulford head teacher Stephen Smith said he was obviously delighted by the result, but schools could not be judged on academic success alone.

Mr Smith said: "It's a strange thing really, from one point of view staff don't bother looking at league tables, although it is a form of recognition.

"For many of my staff the major concern is that all the students they teach truly fulfil their potential, and although perhaps this is one measure of trying to do that, success cannot be measured on league tables alone."

Mr Smith paid tribute to staff and pupils at the school for the hard work and dedication that went in to achieving such a high ranking.

English Martyrs' School, in Holgate, York, was ranked the country's 70th best state primary school - although a five-point drop in overall SAT scores, from 297 down to 292, meant it fell two places compared to last year.

Scarcroft Primary School also did well, reaching 152nd place in the country, with an overall SAT score of 251.

Anna Cornhill, head teacher at Scarcroft, said she was "absolutely thrilled" by their SAT results, which have been steadily improving over the past five years.

Mrs Cornhill said that over the past four years the school has run an arts programme with the youngsters taking part in dance, music and drama alongside lessons.

"I think this has had a really positive knock-on effect on pupils' academic work.

"The staff and pupils have worked incredibly hard and everyone at the school considers themselves to be part of one big team which also helps."

Tadcaster Grammar School was the highest performing state secondary in North Yorkshire, coming 19th in the country, with 74 per cent of students gaining A*-C grade at GCSE with 33 per cent grade As and A*.

For the first time ever the school achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at A-level.

Head teacher Geoff Smith said: "This is down to the way everybody is working to one purpose, student success - the staff and the students do it and this year it's all come together.

"We have determination and belief in our young people and the determination not to give up."

Updated: 09:09 Wednesday, November 24, 2004