Population 625,895

Unemployment 2.2% (3.2% nationally)

Politics

County Council Lab 39, Con 33, Lib Dem 1, Ind 1

Executive Committee Lab 10

MPs Lab 5, Con 1

EDUCATION

Budget:

pound;325.8m (87.7% delegated to schools)

Schools 349

Teachers 4,264

Teaching assistants 93

Exam passes (national averages in brackets) KS1 Level 2+ reading 86% (84%), writing 88% (86%) maths92% (91%)

KS2 Level 4+ English 76% (74%),

maths 72% (72%)

science 87% (87%)

KS3 Level 5+ English 63% (64%),

maths 68% (66%)

science 69% (66%)

GCSE 5 A-Cs 48.5% (50%)