Excellent results for GCSE students

Shropshire’s 16 year olds and their teachers have achieved well as new figures show that 2012 was another good year for GCSE results.

The performance tables published by the Department for Education (DfE) today indicate that 95.5 per cent of students achieved five or more GCSEs and equivalent qualifications with A* to G grades, including English and mathematics.

Shropshire’s figure is likely to be just above the national average and ranks the county first in relation to similar Local Authorities (LAs) and within the top three LAs in the West Midlands.

The tables, which are based on provisional data, also indicate that 58.6 per cent of students across the county gained five or more GCSEs and equivalent qualifications with A* to C grades, including English and mathematics.

These results show that the Shropshire figure is likely to be just above the national average and ranks the county midway in relation to similar LAs and within the top eight LAs in the West Midlands.

The tables are based on provisional data and there is emerging evidence that students have actually achieved better results following appeals to examination boards, remarks of exam scripts and resits, especially with regard to English.

The initial results indicate that the eight schools with the highest percentage of students who gained five or more GCSEs and equivalent qualifications with A* to C grades, including English and mathematics, are: Priory; Corbet; Church Stretton; Bridgnorth Endowed; William Brookes; Sundorne; Meole Brace and Oldbury Wells.

Oldbury Wells and Mary Webb showed the most improvement in attainment, with percentages rising from 51 per cent in 2011 to 63 per cent in 2012, and from 44 per cent in 2011 to 56 per cent in 2012 respectively. Sundorne (53 per cent to 64 per cent) also made a significant improvement.

The tables also highlight the progress made by pupils since they left primary school, based on the percentage of pupils making three levels of progress during their time at secondary school. The schools where students made the most progress in English are Lacon Childe (88 per cent), Sundorne (86 per cent) and Bishops Castle (75 per cent). The schools where students made the most progress in mathematics are Corbet (83 per cent), Church Stretton (82 per cent) and Belvidere (81 per cent).

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for education and skills, said:

“Once again these results reflect the hard work and commitment that our students put into their studies and we congratulate them on their successes.

“Our thanks also go to everyone across the school communities in Shropshire who has contributed to these results. This includes our highly professional and conscientious teachers and headteachers, school governors, support staff, volunteers and, of course, parents and carers whose support is so important to students’ success.”