Schools have "done us proud"

Nationally the average percentage of pupils gaining five or more A*- C grades in this summer's examinations was 50, but in Bury it was 54.2.

And of the ten LEAs in Greater Manchester, Bury has repeated last year's success by coming second to Trafford LEA.

On the national level too the borough can feel pride as it has been ranked 32 out of 149 LEAs across the country.

Bury's executive member for lifelong learning, Councillor Steve Perkins, said: "Once again our students and our schools have done us proud by not only maintaining but actually building on the success that has been recorded to-date. Returning consistent results year after year is a feat in itself, however, to be able to produce ever higher standards really underlines the amazing levels that we are achieving here in Bury."

Topping the league table of LEA schools locally once again is St Monica's RC High School in Prestwich. An impressive 73 per cent of pupils at the Bury Old Road school gained five or more A* - C grades. This is way above the national average of 50 per cent and the borough average of 54.2 per cent. Headteacher Mr Frank McCarron said: "For the second year running we have been heralded as the top performing state school in Bury. The results are a culmination of the hard work by both pupils and teachers and the partnership with parents.

"However, we are still the lowest funded school in Bury and this is what makes our achievement so astounding. No amount of money can compensate for good teaching."

Prestwich also has the most improved school in the borough thanks to the efforts of Prestwich Community High School.

It saw the number of pupils gaining five or more A* - C grades rise from 43 per cent last year to 55 per cent this year.

Only six of the borough's 18 high schools slipped below the national average, but Radcliffe's two schools did particularly badly.

At Coney Green High School 33 per cent of pupils gained five or more A*- C grades while over at Radcliffe High School there was an even worse performance with just 21 per cent of pupils getting five or more A*- C grades.

Despite Radcliffe High's placing, headteacher Mr Graham Rollinson said he was pleased with the results.

"They are in line with and slightly better than expectation, demonstrating once again, as reported by Ofsted inspection, that pupils who attend Radcliffe High School achieve results commensurate with their abilities. This reflects the hard work of both staff and pupils who should feel proud of their achievements."

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Bury Grammar School (Girls) has reached the 100 per cent mark at GCSE for the second time in five years! And Bury Grammar School (Boys) is close behind in second place with a "score" of 99 per cent.

It is a victory for girl power as last year both schools were neck and neck with 98 per cent.

Deputy headteacher Mrs Lynda Billinge said: "These excellent results boost the confidence and morale of staff and students and inspire them to go on to even greater achievements."

She added: "We try to develop not only academic abilities, but sporting and aesthetic abilities in order to develop the "whole" person".

Manchester Jewish Grammar School in Prestwich, while achieving a 95 per cent pass rate, recorded its own worst personal performance for five years.

A/AS/ADVANCED GNVQ LEVELS

These results show the average point score per student studying A-level/A/S level/ Advanced GNVQ level.

This year the national average has dropped slightly from 18.5 to 17.4 points, but the Bury average has remained the same at 16.3 points.

Bury Grammar School (Boys) took the top spot with its highest ever score of 29 and Holy Cross College achieved a personal best with a score of 20.4. Bury College however dropped for the third year running, with an average point score of 12.6.

The principal of Holy Cross College, Mr Mike O'Hare, said: "I am delighted with these results, they are a great credit to our staff and students and represent the largest year-on-year improvement that the college has achieved since league tables were introduced."