TEXT messaging may be partly to blame for a slump in English standards amongst Lancashire's 14-year-olds, an education chief has said.

Coun Alan Whittaker made his assessment as the government's Key Stage Three tables showed that pupils at county council schools continue to match or do better than children across the UK.

The percentage of 14-year-olds hitting the expected level in English fell by two per cent to 73per cent, maths went up by two per cent to 78 per cent and science also improved by two percent to 74.

English nationally has dipped from 74 to 73 per cent, maths has increased by three per cent to 77per cent and science has gone up from 70 to 72 cent.

Coun Whittaker said abbreviated slang commonly used by pupils in text messaging could be playing its part in the English mark.

"The slight drop in English not something I'm unduly concerned about, I don't know what you would put it down to, you could assume its the way pupils are into text messaging. It's hard to say."

He added: "I get text messages and I have to really study them to understand them and what I'm really saying is that while there is room for technology there is also room for traditional methods. It's getting the balance right.

"But with English it's the same nationally. Maybe it's just down to the questions being asked."

The Key Stage 3 (KS3) tests, the results of which were first made public in 2003, are taken by pupils at 14 when they have been at secondary school for three years, and before they start two-year GCSE courses, or other vocational qualifications.

The government champions the tests as a good indicator for parents of how pupils will perform at GCSE level two years later.

Despite the fall in English Coun Whittaker was pleased with pupils' performances.

"I am delighted we remain the same or above the national average which is a reflection of the great teaching going on in our schools.

"I always say results aren't the be all and end all but parents can be assured children in Lancashire are performing well."