Exam results up again in east Manchester

Exam results for pupils in east Manchester are up again thanks to hard work by local students and massive investment in schools.

Average results for the area's three secondary schools show that 64 per cent of pupils passed five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C this year compared with 57 per cent last year.

This continues the upward trend over the last seven years, with three times as many students in east Manchester with five A* to Cs now compared with 2001 - up from 21 per cent in 2001 to 64 per cent this year.

And those getting five or more passes including English and maths, has gone up from 18 to 33 per cent since the measure of performance was introduced by the Government in 2003.

Compared with last year, the number of students with five or more passes at GCSE grades A* to C has gone up from 56 to 73 per cent at St Peter's RC High School and from 44 to 50 per cent at Cedar Mount High School. Performance at Wright Robinson Specialist College was similar to last year, with 68 per cent of pupils with five or more passes compared with 72 per cent last year.

Figures for five or more passes including English and maths are also up from 26 to 47 per cent at St Peter's and from 17 to 20 per cent at Cedar Mount. Performance at Wright Robinson, with 31 per cent, was similar to last year's 33 per cent.

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: "The results are great news for the young people concerned, for the schools and for the whole area. Improving school results is key to improving the life chances of future generations in east Manchester by equipping them with the right skills for work and continuing education and training.

"The massive investment in local schools has included two new primary schools and three new secondary schools over the last five years, with Cedar Mount's new building at Gorton Education Village about to open for the new school year. There are also more new primary schools being developed, plus the 900-place new East Manchester Academy will start on site in January 2009 and open in September 2010.

"The students, staff and everyone involved in helping achieve these great results have good reason to be proud today."

For further information on New East Manchester visit http://www.neweastmanchester.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:

Martin Hellewell at New East Manchester, tel 0161 223 1155, ext 2167