SCHOOL children in Warrington have achieved fantastic GCSE results again this year.
Around 2,500 16-year-olds in the borough have received their GCSE results and have a lot to celebrate.
Early indications from schools suggest that success rates continue to improve and that more than 71 per cent of 
pupils have achieved five or more passes grade A*-C. Last year, the national average for this measure was 62 per cent.
Last year, Warrington’s GCSE performance ranked fifth out of 149 English councils and second highest in the North West.
The government is now focusing on a new measure of performance – the percentage of pupils who achieve five or more A*-C GCSE grades including English and maths.
Early returns from schools suggest that around 53 per cent of pupils have achieved this more challenging target. This figure has steadily been improving from 44 per cent in 2004 to 50 per cent in 2007.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council’s executive member for Children’s Services, said: “Achieving good results in English and maths is important for later job opportunities and for progression to advanced courses. GCSE results continue to improve in Warrington, despite national predictions that improvement has stalled. We are very proud of our schools and the hard work undertaken by our pupils and their teachers. I would like to congratulate both school staff and pupils on successes this year.”
Birchwood High School is celebrating after achieving its best ever results at GCSE.
Pupils will receive some outstanding results with 74 per cent achieving 5A*-C grades – an increase of five per cent on last year.
Moreover, those achieving 5A* – C, including English and Maths, increased to 55 per cent, up 4 per cent on 2007.
The results are the highest the school has achieved to date.
Headteacher Anne Bright said: “We are all absolutely delighted with these outstanding results for Birchwood, which reflect the hard work and commitment shown by both staff and learners alike. Our thanks also go, of course, to our parents and carers who have worked in partnership with us for the last 5 years to achieve this success.”The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) produces Performance Tables of GCSE results in mid-November. These can be obtained at that time from the DfES by phoning 0800 24 23 22 or direct from their website http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables
Pictured…pupils from Birchwood High School celebrating their best-ever results
