Pupils congratulated on their 'fantastic achievement' (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Schools celebrate best ever GCSE results

6:40pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

JUBILANT pupils were celebrating their best ever GCSE results published in the school’s performance tables.

The percentage attaining five or more A* to Cs, including English and maths has increased by three percentage points to 59 per cent.

This is above the national average and the Halton’s best ever result.

Steve Nyakatawa, Halton Council’s operational director for learning and achievement, said: “Halton has built on excellent progress in recent years.

“Given Halton’s socio-economic profile, exceeding national averages is an extraordinary achievement.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and thanks for the excellent work undertaken by all our teachers and staff in our schools, the dedication of head teachers and support and commitment of school governors.

“The achievement of our young people is fantastic. Behind the figures lie years of very hard work and many individual success stories.”

It is the fourth successive year that 100 per cent of Wade Deacon pupils in Widneshave achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Pamela Wright, executive head teacher of Wade Deacon High School, said: “We are delighted with all these exceptional GCSE results.

“All of our pupils have shown a real commitment to their studies.

“Everyone associated with the school is rightly proud of our pupils’ achievements.”

Andy Keeley, head teacher of St Chad’s RC and Cof E High School in Runcorn, said: “We were delighted with our GCSE results which were the best in the school’s history.

"Current league tables, which will change in 2015,  do not always give the full picture. We are particularly proud of our results because we have always offered a broad and balanced curriculum of quality GCSEs which we believe give our young people quality qualifications and quality progression into post-16 education and careers.

"We support the government’s drive to get rid of vocational qualifications which can move schools up the league tables but do not necessarily benefit students.

"Schools will be measured against the English Baccalaureate qualification in the next couple of years and on this measure.

"The government also wants to ‘narrow the gap’ between pupils who are on free school meals and those who are not; on this measure St.Chad’s is the highest achieving school in Halton, achieving twice the national average. .On this basis, current league tables should be studied carefully.

“We are particularly proud of our results because we have always offered a broad and balanced curriculum of quality GCSEs.

“St Chad’s is the highest achieving school in Runcorn.”