Pupils celebrate record GCSE results

Pupils across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin notched up record GCSE results today, reflecting the national picture of one in five exams awarded top grades.

Nationally 20.7 per cent of grades were at A* or A, an increase of 1.2 percentage points on last year. More than 65.7 per cent were at grades A to C, up from 63.3 per cent.

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Three Telford & Wrekin schools - Adams' Grammar School, Newport High School and Thomas Telford - along with Shrewsbury Girls High, all reported 100 per cent of students achieving five or more A*- C grades.

But one of the biggest success stories is The Grange School in Shrewsbury which today smashed the Government's new GCSE standard just two months after it was branded as failing for missing the key target.

The Grange was among more than 600 - including six in Telford & Wrekin - warned to improve performance or risk intervention or closure.

But today The Grange was celebrating a 43 per cent success rate compared to the previous 29.4 per cent.

Headteacher Julia Thomas said: "This is a tribute to staff and pupils, and the support of families."

Sixty-three per cent of candidates gained five or more A* to C grades - excluding the two core subjects - compared to 60 per cent last year.

Janet Brown, chairman of the Shrewsbury Partnership for Education and Training, said targets had been exceeded.

At Shrewsbury Girls High, all 75 candidates achieved five or more high grades. Head Marilyn Cass said there had been "outstanding results" in maths and English Literature.

There were records set also at Concord College, Acton Burnell, where almost 64 per cent of results have been gained at A* or A grades.

Three of the Telford & Wrekin schools on the list have also achieved or beaten the standard - Blessed Robert Johnson, Abraham Darby and Wrockwardine Wood.

At Burton Borough School in Newport there was a nine per cent increase in students achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or above.

Among the top performers at Newport was Hollie Higgins, who achieved nine A* grades and two A grades in AS Level maths and ICT.

Wrekin College student Jamie Cherrington, 16, of The Rock, achieved 10 A* and an A in his GCSEs.

Other figures for five passes or above A*-C included: Charlton School, Wellington, 72 per cent; Sutherland School, Trench, 48 per cent; Ercall Wood Technology College, Wellington, 50 per cent; Hadley Learning Community, 38 per cent; Abraham Darby School, Madeley, 41 per cent; Burton Borough School in Newport, 61 per cent; Phoenix School, Dawley, 42 per cent; Lord Silkin, Stirchley, 41 per cent; and Wrockwardine Wood Arts College, 48 per cent.

Councillor Stephen Burrell, Telford & Wrekin Council lead member for children and young people, said: "We are very encouraged with some of the excellent results, along with the progress made by many of our schools. Results are down to the hard work of students, and the commitment and support of staff, governors and parents."

And at the biggest secondary in either Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin,The Marches at Oswestry, 71 per cent of pupils have achieved five or more top passes.

Students at the Lakelands School, Sports and Language College, Ellesmere, were celebrating after achieving the best ever GCSE results for the school.

A total of 76 per cent of the students gained five or more grades at C or above, with A and A* grades amounting to 26 per cent of the total GCSE grades.

Ian Sanders, headteacher, said: "We are delighted by the success of the class of 2008."

And staff at Market Drayton's Grove School are expecting more than 50 per cent of students to achieve five GCSEs, grade A*-C, for the third year running.

At Thomas Adams School in Wem, 74 per cent of students at Thomas Adams School, Wem, gained five or more A* to C grades.

Neil Hemming, headteacher, said: "These excellent results reflect all the hard work put in during the year.

"In particular, we are overjoyed the students have been able to exceed the demanding targets set for them by the Government."

At Sir John Talbot's Technology College, Whitchurch, 86 per cent of students achieved five or more A*-G GCSE passes, with 51 per cent achieving five or more A*-C passes.

Malcolm Roddy, headteacher, said: "Students and staff have worked exceptionally hard this year in the run-up to the examinations and have been rewarded with many outstanding successes. All students, teachers and support staff can be proud of their efforts."

And at Ellesmere College, 83.5 per cent of students at Ellesmere College were awarded more than five A* to C grades.

Ludlow School recorded its best ever pass rate with 66 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades - an increase of five per cent on last year.

Youngsters at Bedstone College, in Bucknell, achieved 8.5 per cent of all their grades at A* and more than 25 per cent of them at grades at either A* or A.

Students at William Brookes School, in Much Wenlock, recorded the second best set of results in the school's history with 71 per cent gaining five or more passes at A* to C grades.

Lacon Childe School, in Cleobury Mortimer, achieved a pass rate of 69 per cent for students gaining five or more A* to C grades.

Pupils at Oldbury Wells School, in Bridgnorth, achieved a pass rate of 65 per cent - a figure which is expected to rise with results from some business studies and science papers still due to arrive because of a glitch in a computer system.

Youngsters at Bridgnorth Endowed School achieved a pass rate of 62 per cent for youngsters gaining five or more grades at A* to C.

Pupils across Powys also notched up record GCSE results today, reflecting the national picture of one in five exams awarded top grades.Gold standard results were achieved by students at Newtown High School. The school has been celebrating its golden jubilee this year.

Judith Pryce, headteacher, said: "This year the pupils and staff have achieved the best ever results for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 and following record A-level results last week, pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 have now achieved record GCSE results with more than 80 per cent of pupils achieving A* to C grades."

She said the school's results had improved by more than 65 per cent at A* to C over the past five years.

Among the high achievers this year were Kelly James who achieved 11A* and A grades despite sitting the exams a year early and Cassie Jones who gained an A* in French two years early.

Jim Toal, Welshpool High School headteacher, congratulated his students on "another superb year".

"A total of 71 per cent of our students gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C which is significantly above usual county and national averages," he said.

"We are also delighted 100 per cent of our students were able to leave with a recognised qualification."

Outstanding individual performances included: Emily Judson, with 11 A*s; Bridget Randall-Smith, with 9 A*s and two As; and Victoria Ainscow with 8 A*s and four As.

David Evans, Caereinion High School headteacher, said staff were delighted with the school's 83 per cent pass rate.

Ysgol Bro Ddfyi in Machynlleth were also celebrating today with Arwel Price, assistant headteacher, saying a "significant number of pupils" had gained 11 or 12 GCSEs. At Builth Wells High School, 72 per cent of pupils achieved an overall A* to C pass rate.

Llandrindod Wells High School achieved a 69 per cent success rate for pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades. At John Beddoes High School, in Presteigne, 68 per cent of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades.

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