Hundreds of thousands of children are still being failed by poor secondary schools, according to new performance league tables published today.

More than 200 schools nationally now have just a year left to boost their results after failing to ensure that at least 30 per cent of pupils left with five good GCSEs (A*-C) including English and maths.

But in the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin education areas schools have set new records with their best ever results.

Shropshire Council-run schools have performed well above national averages with 50 per cent of pupils gaining five high grades, including English and maths. And in Telford & Wrekin 47.7 per cent of borough pupils achieved the benchmark – a three per cent improvement on the previous year.

It is the third year-on-year improvement by borough schools, which are generally improving at twice the national rate.

Four county schools – Newport Girls High, Adams’ Grammar in Newport, Shrewsbury Girls High, and Thomas Telford – are ranked among the top 200 best schools in England.

Concord College, near Shrewsbury, along with Thomas Telford, Newport Girls High, and Adams’ Grammar are also in the top 200 A-Level performers. But Telford’s Lord Silkin School was among the bottom 200 state schools. Among the “most improved” schools nationally are Sundorne in Shrewsbury, Lakelands in Ellesmere and Pontesbury’s Mary Webb.