GCSE round up in Halesowen and Sandwell (From Halesowen News)

GCSE round up in Halesowen and Sandwell

5:16pm Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News

STUDENTS across Halesowen and Sandwell have been celebrating record GCSE results.

Among many successes, Leasowes High School announced a near-perfect 99 per cent pass rate for those gaining five or more A*-C grades.

The record results are a four per cent increase on last year and include 56 per cent of students gaining five or more A*-C grades, including English and maths.

A quarter of Windsor High School’s GCSE passes were top A*/A grades and 95 per cent of students gained five or more A*-C grades.

Every student achieved five or more A*-G grades and 63 per cent earned five A*-C grades, including English and maths.

Record results were also celebrated at Earls High School, with 75 per cent of students gaining five or more A*-C passes, including English and maths.

English pass rates of 88 per cent and maths of 78 per cent are the best ever in both subjects.

Four Dwellings High School, Quinton , enjoyed an 11 per cent increase in students achieving five 5 A*-Cs including English and maths taking the figure to 43 per cent - the school’s best ever results - with 62 per cent of students gaining five A*-Cs.

Cradley Heath ’s Ormiston Forge Academy principal Andrew Burns said he was "delighted" with 95 per cent achieving five or more at A*-C while 58 per cent gained five or more A*-C grades including English and maths - a nine per cent jump on last year.

As a borough, Sandwell recorded its best-ever GCSE results with many schools achieving above the national average.

Cabinet member for children and families Councillor Bob Badham said: "It should be remembered that 10 years ago we had schools that were only getting single figures on the number of pupils achieving five or more passes at A-C grades.

"No school in the borough was achieving anything near the national average figure.

"But now we have schools that for the last few years have regularly been breaking through the national average figure which would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.

Perryfields High in Oldbury , pupils broke last year's national average pass rate, with 83 per cent of students gaining five or more A*-Cs and 65 per cent achieving five or more passes at A*-C, including English and maths.

Delighted headteacher Dai Meredith said: "This is really pleasing. in 2002 the school was in special measures and now we are consistently achieving this sort of level.”