Pupils at Shropshire state schools achieved their highest ever number of top grade GCSE passes last summer, today’s new performance tables have confirmed.

The proportion of students in the county council education area who gained more than five A*-C grades was 66.6 per cent.

And the number who achieved more than five high grade passes, including English and maths, was also the best ever at 53.3 per cent.

John Rowley, the council’s principal school improvement advisor, said results had been excellent.

“The increases in these figures are the biggest in the past five years,” he said.

For pupils gaining five or more top grades, including English and maths, the Marches School at Oswestry was the highest performing in the state sector with 70 per cent. The highest performer for top grades achieved, but not necessarily including the two core subjects, was Priory School, Shrewsbury, at 81 per cent.

The most improved schools in Shropshire include Sundorne (Shrewsbury) which has seen a rise of 18 per cent in the number of students gaining the top grades compared with 2006, and Mary Webb (Pontesbury) where there has been a 16 per cent increase.

Shropshire is ranked within the top 25 of the 149 local education authorities on each main performance indicator.

“We have continued to perform exceptionally well on those measures which indicate social inclusion,” said Mr Rowley.

“The proportion of pupils who leave school with at least one GSCE qualification has continued to rise to 98.8 per cent, which means that only around 40 pupils, out of just over 3,500, left Shropshire schools without a qualification in 2007.”

Councillor Ann Hartley, county council cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The standard of achievement in Shropshire schools remains very high and I am delighted.”

By Dave Morris