Mersey Students Cut Above Average Reports on GCSE

PUPILS across Merseyside were celebrating yesterday as GCSE results in most boroughs improved by more than the national average. Liverpool’s mainstream state schools made significant headway in catching up with national standards, with the number of pupils achieving five A* to C grades increasing from 45.3% to 49.8% – a rise of 4.5% compared to the national increase of 2%.

In Wirral, the same percentage improved from 54% to 57%, while in Sefton a total of 56.6% of pupils got five A* to C, a rise of 1.3%.

St Helens recorded its highest ever increase of more than 7% to 55% -1% of pupils passing five A* to Cs, with one school seeing a record jump of 30%.

Knowsley also announced a record-breaking year, with provisional results showing the number of pupils achieving five A* to C passes increasing from 5.8% to 44.2% – almost three times the national average increase.

It means pupils have smashed the government’s target set for the borough of 41% in 2005 and exceeded the 2006 target of 44%.

Nationally, of the 600,000 pupils who received their results, students enjoyed the biggest pass rate increase ever, up 2% for A* to C grades, the biggest rise in 13 years.

Figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications, representing the exam boards, showed the proportion of A* to C grades at GCSE was up from 59.2% in 2004 to 61.2% this year, the largest rise since 1992.

A* and A grades also rose by 1% and the overall pass rate running from grades A* to G went up by 0.2% to 97.8%.

But the JCQ said the sharp rise was partly because less bright pupils were abandoning modern languages, as it emerged GCSE exam entries for French and German were down by a combined total of 63,000 this year.

The revelation prompted headteachers to demand ministers restore language study as compulsory at secondary schools.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, condemned the government’s decision to make languages optional as a "catastrophe."

Meanwhile, the overall A* to C maths pass rate increased by 1.7% from 51.7% to 53.4% the biggestrise for five years. For English, it increased by 1% from 59.9% to 60.9%.

Colin Hilton, Liverpoool’s executive director of education, described the city’s improvement as "tremendous", and "a reflection of the extremely hard work of thousands of Liverpool students."

He said: "It is a result of their dedication, plus excellent support from teachers and parents. It is too early to say how we compare with the rest of the country, but I am confident we are well placed to continue improving our performance in national league tables."

Two of the biggest rises were at St John Bosco school in Croxtethwhere the number getting five A* to C went up 19.4% and at Cardinal Heenan, in West Derby where the figure was up 15.3There were similar celebrations of outstanding success from both individual pupils and schools across the region.

Ten out of Knowsley’s 11 secondary schools achieved atleast 30% five A* to C grades pass rate compared with only one in 1999.

At least seven out of the borough’s 11 secondary schools now achieve a five A* to C grades pass rate of more than 40% and two exceeded 50% for the first time.

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School in Whistonwas the most improved school in Knowsley with an increase in pupils gaining five passes at grades C and above from 53% last year to 72% this year – a stunning rise of 19%.

Meanwhile, at All Saints Catholic High School in Kirkby, 52% of pupils achieved five grades A* to C, a rise of 8% on last year’s 44%.

Coun Larry Nolan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for education, said: "Once again Knowsley is celebrating a fantastic success in the GCSE results, and we are seeing evidence of the ever improving standard of teaching and learning in our secondary schools.

"These results are due in no small part to the commitment and effort of Knowsley’s pupils, teachers, parents and officers who have all been thoroughly dedicated to improving life chances for our young people by giving them access to the best possible education."

Howard Cooper, Wirral’s director of education and cultural services, said: "We are delighted at the achievements of Wirral pupils in this year’s GCSE examinations.

"These results are a testament to the hard work of pupils and staff in our schools, and we are proud to have shown an improvement on the already excellent standards reached in recent years"Congratulation to all pupils, their families and their teachers."

Councillor Peter Dowd, Sefton’s cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: "I always get anxious, along with our pupils, at this time of year because I am just as eager to see how they have done.

"We have had some great success today. Although it is great to get what you hoped for, and even achieve above expectation, it is not the end of the day if pupils don’t get what they wanted.

"There are plenty of options open, no matter what today’s results are and we will do our best to support everyone as they look to the future." Cllr Terry Shields, executive member for Children and Young People’s Services in St Helens, said: "This is a tremendous achievement and everyone should be congratulated."

"I would not normally single any school out but special mention must go to Cowley for their 30% increase and St Cuthbert’s who have increased from 53% to 71%.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith sent similar congratulations to students and teachers across the UK as results showed progress being made in the basics.

She welcomed the rise in the overall pass rate A* to C of two percentage points up to 61.2