Southwark’s schools in top ten as children triumph in GCSE results
Published 15 January 2010
This week, as national averages for GCSEs are published, Southwark is identified as one of the top ten most improved boroughs in the country.
The number of students that achieved five or more A* to C grades has improved by more than 11 percentage points rising from 56.3 percent last year to 67.5 percent this year.
There was also an increase of 3.3 percentage points on the number of pupils that gained five or more A* to C grades including English and maths, rising from 42.7 percent last year to 46.0 percent this year. The percentages place Southwark in the top ten of the most improved boroughs in the UK.
According to Cllr Nick Stanton, Southwark Council leader, the dramatic improvement can be attributed to the dedication of staff, pupils and parents to improve results. The council has a continuing strong focus on raising standards of literacy and numeracy of pupils of all ages. The £200m, 12 building, Southwark Schools for the future programme will also boost secondary schools and new ways of working will match the progression in achievement.
The news of the improvement comes after an Audit Commission report, released last month, stated that children's services in the borough are 'performing well'. It also said: 'The proportion of good or outstanding secondary and sixth form schools is above the national average.' The report added that 'the difference in the performance of children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and others of the same age is generally smaller than the national figure.'
Cllr Nick Stanton, leader of the council and lead member for education said: "The results are testament to the dedication of staff, pupils and parents who have strived to achieve more and more over past years. Year on year, the results improve, making Southwark schools an increasingly popular place for parents to educate their children and the borough their choice for a long-term home."
The same dedication will be applied to push A-level results to improve at the same rate. There are only two local authority maintained schools in the borough which have sixth forms. Both have been inspected by OFSTED within the past twelve months and the sixth form provision in one was judged outstanding and the other as good.
