Member Article

North Yorkshire schools perform strongly again

North Yorkshire’s schools and colleges have again performed strongly in the national performance table rankings published today.

At GCSE, over 65 per cent of pupils achieved 5 A*-C results including English and Maths for the second consecutive year. This compares to a national figure of 59.2 per cent and places North Yorkshire in the top 20 per cent of authorities nationally.

Across the county the proportion of pupils achieving at least 5 GCSEs at A*-C, or equivalent qualifications, in any subject, was 84 per cent compared to a national figure of 81.8 per cent.

North Yorkshire also performed very strongly – again in the top 20 per cent of all local authorities - for achievement in the English Baccalaureate. This is awarded to pupils who achieve at least a C grade in five specific GCSE subjects - English, maths, a humanity, a language and two sciences.

Up to 29 per cent of pupils across the county gained the English Baccalaureate, an increase of 7 per cent from last year.

Several of North Yorkshire local authority maintained schools have significantly improved their GCSE 5 A*-C results including English and Maths. For example Malton School; King James, Knaresborough; Whitby Community College and Lady Lumley’s, Pickering, increased the proportion of students achieving this outcome by over 10 per cent.

Nearly 82 per cent of North Yorkshire students gained at least three A levels or equivalent, compared to 80.5 per cent nationally, with 16 per cent achieving the AAB grades which are needed for entry to many prestigious universities.

County councillor Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire’s executive member for schools said: “North Yorkshire has scored highly again. The figures show today that the county’s schools prepare our young people very well for their next steps into training or further and higher education.

“This means they are able to access the full range of choices, including entry to the top universities. They also show that strong partnerships between schools and between schools and the local authority have maintained high standards.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .