Schools celebrate improvements in GCSE and A-level results (From Gazette Series)

Schools in South Gloucestershire celebrate improvements in GCSE and A-level results

3:34pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Thornbury news By Marion Sauvebois

MOST schools in South Gloucestershire showed marked improvements in their GCSE and A-level results, with some ranking highly in the national score tables.

Winterbourne International Academy outdid itself this year and topped the league with 80 per cent of students getting five or more GCSEs and scoring A* to C grades. The previous summer, they had hit the 72 per cent mark.

Rob Evans, academy principal, said: "I am thrilled by the performance of our Year 11 students in achieving the highest ever results for the academy.

"These results are a reflection of the students’ talents and dedication, the support of their parents/carers, together with the first class teaching of the academy staff."

Across South Gloucestershire 55.5 per cent of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades including English and maths, according to the latest Key Stage 4 and 5 performance tables published by the Department of Education last week.

This represents a slight drop from the 56 per cent recorded 2010.

Thornbury’s Castle School ranked fourth despite falling from 74 per cent in 2010 to 66 per cent last August.

Head teacher Melanie Warnes said: "We are pleased that all students, irrespective of ability, achieved well in our truly comprehensive school."

Brimsham Green in Yate and Marlwood School in Alveston, which both took fifth place with 57 per cent each, also saw their average drop. In 2010, Marlwood had recorded 67 per cent while Brimsham had reached 58 per cent.

Yet, other schools which did not make the top five, showed significant progress in South Gloucestershire.

Chipping Sodbury School, for instance, saw its number of high-achieving pupils soar in 2011 with 53 per cent compared to 39 per cent the previous year and Yate International Academy's average went from 49 per cent to 53 per cent.

Executive member for children and young people, Cllr Sheila Cook, said: "Well done to pupils in South Gloucestershire for another set of good results which are a testament to the dedication of our teachers, non-teaching staff, school governors, parents and carers who are committed to helping our young people achieve their full potential."

As for the league tables’ A-levels results, they set many South Gloucestershire schools high above the national average of 728.2 points per student.

Again Winterbourne Academy ranked first in the district with a score of 857.3, closely followed by Castle School with 842.1 and Marlwood with 741.4.

Brimsham Green and Filton Academy scored a point average of respectively 685.3 and 669.2.

Yate Academy, however, fell to the bottom of the league with pupils achieving 491.7 points.

To view the local schools' results visit www.gazetteseries.co.uk/li/all_secondary_schools.in.Thornbury/ and www.gazetteseries.co.uk/li/all_secondary_schools.in.Yate/