Milton Keynes Sees Big Improvements in GCSE Results

12.00.00am GMT Thu 19th Jan 2006

GCSE and equivalent results published this month show continuing improvements in Milton Keynes at a faster rate than nationally.

A total of 52% of students across the city gained 5 or more higher-grade passes compared with 48% in 2004. This maintains the momentum of improved performance every year over the last eight years.

Other indicators show that:

• the percentage of students gaining 5 or more passes at A*-G exceeds the national figure

• there is a smaller percentage of students in Milton Keynes than nationally gaining no qualifications.

Value-added measures for Milton Keynes, which show the progress made by pupils from age 11 to 16 and from age 14 to 16, have also improved and are above national rates of progress.

Top performers for higher grade passes were Shenley Brook End School, followed by Denbigh and St Paul's. Strong improvements from 2004 were seen at Denbigh, Lord Grey and Stantonbury.

Lord Grey reached a key improvement milestone with 50% of its students gaining 5 or more higher grade passes. This is a remarkable 22% improvement at the school over the last four years.

Results for 2005 include for the first time figures for the percentage of pupils who achieve 5 or more higher grade passes including English and mathematics. Over the last three years Milton Keynes results for this indicator have risen by over 8% compared with a national rise of only 2%.

Walton High, Denbigh and Ousedale lead the way with this new indicator, with Denbigh, Lord Grey, Sir Frank Markham and Stantonbury Campus making the biggest improvements from 2004.

Councillor Sandra Clark, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for children and young people, welcomed the news, adding: "This is a great credit both to our schools and to our young people."