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16 Nov 00

POOLE SCHOOLS PUBLISHED IN NATIONAL GCSE PERFORMANCE TABLES

The Government has today published the school by school GCSE Tables for the examinations taken by 16 year olds last summer. Schools in Poole have once again brought in results which continue to be well above national averages.

60% of students in Borough schools achieved at least five top grades at GCSE, 92% achieved five or more pass grades and over 97% gained at least one GCSE pass. The number of top A* and A grades also improved, with 18% of entries achieving these coveted high level grades.

Cllr Mrs Annette Brooke, Chairman of the Learning and Skills Policy Advisory Group, said: "I am delighted that schools in Poole have once again been able to show such improvement, and that they compare so well with the national picture. Students have to work extremely hard over several years to succeed well at GCSE but these efforts are extremely worthwhile and give an important starting point for our young people's working lives."

Jeff Hart, Head of School Advice and Support Services, said: "Last year Poole achieved the fifth highest results nationally for unitary authorities at GCSE. I have no doubt that our schools will have performed extremely well this year too as the national picture unfolds. While all Poole schools have maintained their progress, some have made a significant increase in performance this year."

He added: "Teachers and support staff in schools have worked extremely hard to enable each student to achieve their best. Several schools have mounted additional support, such as special revision classes. I am very pleased to see their efforts being rewarded by improvements in students' results both for high achieving students and for those who in yesteryear might well have left school with few or no passes."

"The pressure has increased on schools over recent years to perform better year on year at GCSE. However, these exam results are only one measure of a school's success and we must not forget students' achievements in other areas of school life which play an important part in taking young people forward into adulthood."

Jeff Hart, Chief Advisor, (01202) 633733