Salford pupils shine in GCSEs

This is an archived news story from February 2010

Salford students are yet again performing better than this year's improved national average for GCSE results, passing even more exams with better grades.

The number of pupils in the city's high schools achieving five or more GCSEs with A* to C grades has risen to 73 per cent.

This is six per cent higher than the city's results for 2008 and three per cent above the national average of 70.

The new figures for pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades with English and maths are a near six per cent rise on Salford's results last year - more than twice the country's average.

This put the city's rate of improvement at the highest its ever been ranking it the most improved local authority in Greater Manchester for 2009 GCSE results and the second most improved in the north west.

In addition, the rate of progress made by pupils from when they start at the city's high schools to when they finish is above the national score of 1000.

This year's highest achieving secondary schools in this category are St Patrick's RC with a score of 1053.6, The Swinton High School with 1044.3, and Buile Hill High School with 1036.4.

Councillor John Warmisham, Salford City Council's lead member for children's services said: "Salford's GCSE results for this year were our best ever, and well deserved by our young people.

"The city's academic achievement is improving significantly each year and we're narrowing the gap between the national average for exam results including English and maths.

"The fact that more of our young people than ever are leaving school with even better qualifications is a great achievement."