Shropshire students do well in latest GCSE league tables

In Telford & Wrekin, the proportion of students who attained five GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grade C or above has continued to rise and at 88 per cent - well above the national average of 82 per cent.

The proportion of students who have achieve five GCSEs, or equivalent, at grade C or above including English and Maths has dipped slightly from last years high to 59 per cent. This is broadly in line with the national average.

Schools which have shown a good level of improvement this year include Abraham Darby Academy where there is a nine per cent increase in the proportion of students attaining five grades A* to C at GCSE or equivalent including English and Maths, taking this to 61 per cent.

At Burton Borough School, 71 per cent of students achieved this same measure and at Ercall Wood Technology College there was a six per cent improvement to 54 per cent.

Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “Our figures have shown consistent progress and, in spite of the fact that vocational options are no longer included in the national measure, this year is no exception.

“We can be proud of the progress we have made and continue to make and I would like to congratulate all our pupils, staff, governors and parents on their hard work.”

In the Shropshire Council area the GSCE league tables indicate that 60.4% of students across the county gained five or more GCSEs and equivalent qualifications with A* to C grades, including English and mathematics. The results show that the Shropshire figure is likely to be just above the national average.

The seven 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 Corbet School, Lacon Childe School, Sundorne School, Shrewsbury, Priory School, Idsall School, Belvidere School and Church Stretton School.

Schools showing the most improvement from 2012 to 2013 are Sir John Talbot’s Technology College, Lacon Childe School, Cleobury Mortimer and Ludlow CE School.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services, 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.”

For the first time this year, the government has published results for GCSE only, so equivalent qualifications are not included.