GCSE results across Halesowen and Sandwell show increased success for many schools.

Pupils and staff at Leasowes High School celebrated another record-breaking year with a five per cent increase in five or more A*-Cs including English and maths, taking the figure to 56 per cent.

Seventy-one per cent passed English and 61 per cent maths at A*-C.

The school’s English Baccalaureate score rose to a record-breaking 34 per cent from last year’s 29 per cent and star performers were Mia Nicholls who achieved 5 A*s, 3 As and 2 Bs, Joshua Marley 2 A*s, 6 As and 2 Bs and Luke McGurk 2 A*s, 4 As and 3 Bs.

Cradley Heath’s Ormiston Forge Academy achieved its fourth consecutive year of improved results with a 53 per cent A*-C pass rate for five or more GCSEs, including English and maths.

Bucking the national trend, there were a record 91 A* grades amongst the year 11 cohort, compared to 63 in 2015.

High flyers included Samuel Robson 8A*, 3A, 1B, Lee Harding 7A*, 4A, Jake Buswell 6A*, 4A, 1B, and Tahirah Sultana 5A*, 6A, 1B.

Some schools also reported their Progress 8 score, which is a new measure showing whether their pupils made above or below average progress since leaving primary school across eight subjects compared to similar pupils in other schools.

Leasowes' headteacher Neil Shaw said: "Our positive Progress 8 score also demonstrates that we successfully deliver progress to students, regardless of their starting points.”

Oldbury’s Bristnall Hall Academy enjoyed improved results for the second year running, with 56 per cent gaining five or more A*- C grades including English and maths - a five per cent increase from 2015.

For pupils taking the EBacc, there was a six per cent rise to 33 per cent, and its Progress 8 score was also “significantly positive”.

Top performers included Hannah Gowing with 7 A*s and 4 As.

Windsor High School saw 67 per cent of pupils gaining A*-C in English and maths and achieved a positive Progress 8 score, demonstrating pupils made above average progress.

At Oldbury Academy 55 per cent of pupils achieved both English and maths at A*-C which the school said was a "considerable upturn from last year".

Their five or more A*-Cs including English and maths has not been finalised yet, but is up on 2015.

Maths saw a 10 per cent jump from last year with 65 per cent of pupils gaining A*-C and the same percentage also gained the top grades in English.

Best performers included to Umair Arif, Bawan Kamil, Elle Bryan, Inderpal Bahia, Aanish Imtiaz and Lauren Gould who all secured at least 10 grades at A*or A.

At The Earls High School 65 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and maths.

The maths department was celebrating with 81 per cent awarded a C or more whilst 72 per cent reached the benchmark in English. The school also achieved a positive Progress 8 result

Notable results included Halima Bashir, Georgia Box, Chloe Howarth, Nathan Plimmer, Suzanne Dear, Komal Doal, Amber Hughes, Raveena Samra and Alice Smith who all achieved eight or more A* and A grades.