Darlington retained its place as the best-performing education authority in the Tees Valley, despite a blip in exam results, league tables published today show.

Statistics released by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) show A-level students helped the town retain a place in the top ten nationally.

Pupils taking GCSEs did not perform as well across the town and results saw Darlington slip from 70th in the country to 89th.

But two schools had their best years.

Eastbourne and Hurworth comprehensives increased their average five or more A*-C grade passes to about the national average.

Eastbourne, among the most blighted for truancy last year, also avoided being named in a league of the country's worst 200.

"We are absolutely delighted," said headteacher Karen Pemberton.

"We have continued to improve our GCSE results, our truancy figures and the attendance.

"There is an upward trend and we are confident it will continue."

Nationally, ministers have welcomed GCSE figures that show a rise in the overall pass rate, despite confirmation that the Government missed its key targets.

The overall national pass rate for grades A to C at GCSE and equivalent rose by 0.8 per cent last year, while A-level passes also increased.

Meanwhile, The King's Academy, in Middlesbrough, one of the Government's flagship city academies was listed among the worst for truancy.

The statistics show 8.2 per cent of half-days are lost to unauthorised absence at the £20m super-school.

But education officials at Middlesbrough Council are disputing the way the statistics are compiled and are in talks with DfES about the figures.