GCSE Results Continue to Rise

Press Release Date: 24 August 2012

Once again Tameside has achieved its best year for GCSEs with provisional results rising by 4% to 85% for pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades – 5% above last year’s national average.

With top grades nationwide reportedly down for the first time since the qualification was introduced in 1986 and amidst growing concerns about the way in which many students have been graded, these results are extremely commendable.

Provisional results for 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths across the borough have also risen to 57%.

Creditable increases are apparent in the majority of Tameside schools, most notably at Alder Community High School, Longdendale Language College, St. Damian’s RC Science College and All Saints Catholic College where the numbers of pupils achieving 5A* - C including English and mathematics indicate a rise of 10% or more in each school. For the second year running the year’s top performers were the girls of Fairfield High, where 78% gained the crucial 5A*-C including English and maths and a remarkable 99% gained in excess of five GCSE grades at A*-C. Other schools surpassing 70% 5A*-C including English and Mathematics are Mossley Hollins High School, St. Thomas More Maths and ICT College, Audenshaw School and All Saints Language College.

Sally Rees, Interim Director of Tameside’s Children Services passed on her congratulations to schools and students and commented: “In Tameside we believe in working hard to make sure our children can achieve their full potential and these results reflect all of that effort. Equally pleasing is the fact that over the past seven years we have seen continued improvement in these important measures.”

Councillor Ged Cooney, Executive Member for Learning and Achievement said: “I remember this time last year saying how pleased I was but this year our young people have excelled themselves even further. It really is a wonderful achievement and I can see how well the borough’s teachers and others have supported our young people as well as governors and parents.

“Everyone involved has put every effort into helping learners across Tameside to raise their grades and achieve such fantastic results.

“We would like to congratulate all those learners who have done so well and wish them the best of luck for the future as they move on to further education, training or employment.”