Headteachers at Falmouth Community School and Penryn College have labelled GCSE league tables as unfair and simplistic.

As soon as the tables were published, both Penryn head Marie Hunter and Falmouth head Sandra Critchley were quick to point out the subjective nature of the results.

Both teachers are keen to avoid any comparisons between the schools, but the tables show that the number of Penryn College pupils gaining at least five subjects at grade A* to C has increased by 22 per cent compared to 2002.

At Falmouth Community School 43 per cent of pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Mrs M Hunter said she was not happy with the table's main figure for straight GCSE results and pointed out there were other aspects the tables ignored.

"It is only one measure of many," she said. "A big emphasis at the college is placed on leadership, whether that is leadership of the self, helping others or giving something back to the community.

"We believe that this approach to learning has a real impact on the kind of people we are preparing for the world and it obviously has an impact on GCSE results too."

She was delighted with the improvement on the year before, with 65 per cent of Penryn College pupils gaining five GCSEs at A* to C.

"We must not forget that the young people achieved these results by working really hard for the whole of the school time, supported by their parents and teachers. They really deserve their success."

Penryn College's value added measure in the tables put it 57th in the country, which earned the school a letter of commendation from David Miliband. Mrs Hunter described this ranking as a "mammoth achievement".

Mrs Critchley criticised the tables but stressed she was not disappointed with her pupils' performance.

"Frankly league tables only reflect one aspect of the school," she said. "There is far more to it than straightforward examination results.

"I am not disappointed with the results. When you look at the value added measure it is in line with the county average."

She said the main figures did not take into account any environmental element or whether each child achieved their own potential or not.

"It depends very much on the group being examined. They are a lot of individuals from different circumstances with different sets of abilities." added Mrs Critchley.