The number of pupils achieving five A* to C passes in GCSE exams has reached an all-time high - increasing from 46.6 per cent in 2005 to 50.2 per cent last summer.

It is also the first time the five A* to C grade benchmark in Bradford has bettered the 50 per cent mark.

The rate of improvement in Bradford's secondary schools of 3.4 per cent, has significantly bettered the national average of 2.1 per cent.

However, this year the Government has changed the GCSE benchmark with schools now judged according to the percentage of pupils who achieve five GCSEs at grade A* to C, including English and maths.

Using the new calculation, the district-wide figure in 2005 was 32.5 per cent. This year it rose 1.5 points to 34 per cent. The national average was 0.9 per cent.

However, the performance of the district's students in both GCSE and A-level exams remains below the national average.

Skipton Girls' High School pupils were also celebrating after finishing in 11th place in the nationwide league table of the top 200 performing schools of all types.

Pupils at Heckmondwike Grammar School were not far behind in 15th, with Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton, in 101st.

Bradford's four-place jump up the GCSE league table has been praised by the district's education bosses.

John Gaskin, Education Bradford managing director, said: "This result shows that things are really changing for Bradford's secondary schools.

"Head teachers, school staff, Education Bradford staff, pupils and parents deserve to be congratulated for their efforts to bring about such a significant improvement.

"Bradford schools are now much nearer the national average than ever before and this is something we should all be celebrating."

Councillor Colin Gill, Bradford Council's executive member for children's services, said: "These GCSE results are absolutely fantastic and are truly a credit to the teachers and pupils in every one of our schools.

"As the figures show, examination performance has improved hugely since 2000 and 85 per cent of children across the district have gained five GCSEs, with most achieving the top A* to C grades.

"Across the city, and in every one of our towns and villages we should celebrate the dedication of our teachers and the outstanding achievements of our youngsters."

Kath Tunstall, Bradford Council's interim director of children services, said: "These are our best GCSE results by far and pupils, teachers, head teachers and everyone involved in schools should be congratulated on their excellent efforts.

"We have seen sustained improvement in recent years and these latest results show a significant increase in the percentage of pupils gaining five A* to C grades, and those gaining five GCSEs including English and maths - this all bodes well for the future.

"We now need to keep moving in the right direction and build on this success and continue to strive to ensure young people in Bradford achieve the best they can."

Four Bradford schools have been named among Britain's best for improving performance.

Staff and students at Immanuel College, Challenge College, Rhodesway School and Grange Technology College were among 200 schools which made the best improvement in their GCSE results between 2003 and 2006.

Immanuel College posted an especially impressive result after more than doubling its A*-C pass rate.

This year, 52 per cent of pupils passed five subjects at grade C or above.

Last year, only 25 per cent of students at the Thackley school managed the same feat.

Head teacher Jane Tiller said: "This has been a very exciting year for us all at Immanuel.

"Staff, students, parents and everyone associated with the college have worked incredibly hard to bring about our success. We are a rapidly improving school and our GCSE results now confirm this."

However, several inner-city secondary schools were named in a table listing the worst 200 schools for GCSE results.

Belle Vue Boys' School in Heaton saw only 12 per cent of pupils achieve five A* to C grades, including English and maths, the 54th worst in the country.

At Belle Vue Girls, 15 per cent achieved the same feat, placing the school in 107th place nationally.

Elsewhere Tong School, Wyke Manor School and Greenhead High School, Keighley, all finished in the bottom 200 in the country with five A* to C grades, including English and maths, at 18 per cent or below.

Wyke Manor, Batley Girls' High School and The Holy Family Catholic High School in Keighley were also named in the bottom 100 nationwide for value added between Key Stage 2 and GCSE exams.

The district's A-level students also hit the heights with the district's national ranking rising from 120th from 147 authorities in 2004 to 110th last summer.

There were also individual successes.

Ermysted Grammar School in Skipton, Skipton Girls' High School, both part of North Yorkshire, and Heckmondwike Grammar School, were all named in the top 200 schools across the country.

Skipton Girls, Heckmondwike Grammar and Ermysted Grammar were also named in the top 200 nationwide for their GCSE results, with every pupil achieving at least five A* to C grades.

Heckmondwike Grammar head teacher Mark Tweedle said: "We are very pleased. We are a selective school and should get good exam results but I think last year's were probably the best we have ever had."

Fab four lead the way up!

Four inner-city Bradford schools have gained official recognition after transforming pupil performance.

Staff and students at Immanuel College, Challenge College, Rhodesway School and Grange Technology College were named among 200 schools nationwide which have made the best improvement in GCSE results between 2003 and 2006.

Grange Technology College saw the percentage of pupils who gained five GCSEs at grade A* to C, including English and maths, rise from 18 per cent in 2003 to 28 per cent last summer.

Head teacher Paul Burluraux, said: "These excellent results in the value-added performance tables represent the superb progress made by all Grange students. Our students work hard and all Grange staff work together to promote excellence in learning.

"Grange results have consistently been ranked very highly. We are all very proud of this achievement."

Rhodesway School, Allerton, saw its pupils' points score for the same benchmark increase from 14 to 25 per cent.

Head teacher Nigel Jepson said: "It is absolutely fantastic news that we are in the top 200 for improvement.

"Staff, pupils and the local community have come together and worked very hard. But this is only the beginning."

Challenge College in Frizinghall saw its benchmark pass rate rise from 26 to 38 per cent.

Head teacher Sian Harris said: "Our students have worked incredibly hard during their time at Challenge College to make this sort of progress - well done to all of them. It is the quality of teaching and learning at Challenge College that enables our students to achieve at this level."

Councillor Phillip Thornton (Lab, Windhill and Wrose), chairman of the Council's young people and education improvement committee, said: "I am absolutely delighted that there has been such improvements.

"It is certainly good news for all the young people who have worked hard to turn the results around."

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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