GCSE results in Manchester continue to rise

Provisional results just in show that achievement in Manchester schools at GCSE is continuing to rise at a faster rate than at other schools nationally.

First indications show that there has been a 3.7% rise in the city in the number of pupils achieving five or more good GCSE passes at grades A*-C, at 51.3% this year, against a national increase of only 0.9%.

Pauline Newman, Manchester City Council's Director Children's Services, said: "The results clearly show that Manchester schools are continuing to improve at a faster rate than other schools nationally. "This is good news and is down to the continued hard work and dedication of pupils and teachers. Pupils should be very proud of their achievements and keep on working hard during the next stage of their education or training to ensure that they go on to achieve their full potential.

"Although results in the city's schools are improving we recognise that there is still more work that needs to be done, particularly in the core subjects of English and maths. We will continue to work closely with schools to support them in making further improvements in all subject areas over the coming year."

The most improved school in the city this year was Wright Robinson Sports College, Gorton which has seen a 20% increase in the number of pupils achieving five or more good GCSEs A*-C from 51% last year to 71% this year.

Other schools showing steady improvement since last year are The Barlow High School, Didsbury with an increase of 12.4% on last year's results at 67.4% of pupils gaining five or more good GCSEs, and North Manchester High School for Girls with an increase of 11% at 52% of pupils gaining five or more good GCSEs.

Other success stories include Whalley Range High School for Girls where 61% of pupils gained five or more good GCSEs - the first time the school has broken through the 60% barrier.

Individual pupil successes include pupils at three Manchester schools who have achieved marks in their subjects that are within the top 5 highest marks nationally, placing them amongst the highest achieving pupils in the country.

At St Peter's High School one pupil was amongst the top 5 in the country for French and Spanish; at Parrs Wood High School two pupils achieved results that placed them amongst the top 5 pupils in the country for Sociology; and at St Thomas Aquinas High School one pupil achieved marks within the top 5 in the country in Spanish, whilst another pupil at the school was in the top five in the country for French.

The top three performing schools in the city this year were King David High School where 99.1% of pupils gained five or more good GCSEs, Trinity CE High School 79.8%, and Wright Robinson Sports College with 71%.

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Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179