County students shine in final GCSE league tables

From next year, schools will no longer be judged on raw GCSE data but on a broader range of results across eight subjects – a change largely welcomed by headteachers.

Figures released today (January 21) by the Department for Education showed the percentage of the county’s children earning five or more A*-C grades, including A*-C in both English and maths, was the highest for four years, beating the national average.

In 2014, 57.6 per cent of students made the grade - last year it rose to 60.3 per cent, compared to the national average of 57.1 per cent.

The story wasn’t so good when it came to A-Levels.

Some 99.5 per cent of the 4,197 West Sussex 16-18-year-olds earned at least one result at A*-E - fractionally short of the national average 99.6 per cent.

The figures dropped away when it came to the students earning at least two or at least three such results.

Only 89 per cent of the students earned at least two, compared to 92.2 per cent nationally, while 70.6 per cent earned at least three, compared to 78.7 per cent nationally.

The county’s girls out-performed the boys in the GCSEs, though the results of both genders outshone the national average.

Some 64.6 per cent of girls earned five or more A*-C grades, including A*-C in both English and maths, compared to 56.3 per cent of boys.

The national average for girls was 61.8 per cent and for boys it was 52.5 per cent.

The boys showed a huge improvement when it came to the percentage who made the expected progress between Key Stage 2 and the GCSEs, with 71.3 per cent making the grade, compared to the national average of 65.9 per cent.

The girls also outshone the national average, with 79.1 per cent making the expected progress compared to 76.5 per cent nationwide.

Councillor Richard Burrett, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said: “We are pleased that so many young people have achieved grades which would enable them to go to the university of their choice.

“Parents, teachers and the pupils themselves should be rightly proud of the achievements of students in the county.

“Results reported today show that 99.5% of students attained at least one A-Level at Grades A-E and almost 10% of the 2015 cohort attained AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.

“99.9% of students attained at least one substantial vocational qualification.” I should like to pay tribute to our school leaders for the support that they have given in guiding pupils to the next stage in their life.”

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