Bury moves up the league

And Bury is the second best improving local education authority in the country.

"This is an outstanding performance which reflects the hard work of pupils, staff, parents and governors," said Bury's chief education officer Mr Harold Williams.

Using the standard benchmark figure of the percentage of pupils gaining five or more A*-C grades in this summer's examinations, Bury has jumped from 44th last year to joint 26th out of 149 LEAs. The A-C grades are the equivalent of the old O-level pass.

Bury has improved at a greater rate than the country as a whole. The national average of pupils gaining five or more A*-Cs was 47.9 per cent, slightly more than last year's 46.3 per cent.

But in Bury the average was an impressive 53.5 per cent, a significant improvement on 47.4 per cent last year.

Bury CE High School topped the table for borough schools with a score of 69 per cent - a six per cent improvement on last year. Last year's "winner" St Gabriel's RC High shared second place with St Monica's RC High in Prestwich - both scoring 67 per cent.

Mrs Kathy Leaver, deputy headteacher of Bury CE, said: "Obviously we are very proud of our students who have achieved such a marvellous result. The staff have contributed to this through their hard work and commitment."

She believes the school's reviewing process has helped. Under this, pupils receive individual advice sessions about target grades, study technique and coping with pressure.

"It's not just about raising examination standards, it's about the advancement of the pupil as a whole," said Mrs Leaver.

At the other end of the spectrum was Broad Oak High. It came bottom of the table for the sixth year running with just 21 per cent of pupils gaining A*-C grades. However, it is the second successive year that the school has improved on itself by one per cent.

Headteacher Mr Andrew Mackenzie said: "After a full year here I am now in a position to feel confident that our five A*-C percentage will improve. I expect to see a significant improvement next year. I know that the ingredients for greater success are in place."

He remarked on the very positive inspection of the school in February and pointed out that all students taking the full GNVQ in art were successful and gained exceptional results.

Mr Mackenzie added: "As with any school, results need to be seen in terms of what has been added to pupils during the five years of secondary education. Our prime aim is to help each pupil to make the most of their ability whatever the level." Councillor Andrea Hughes, Bury's school standards spokesman, said she was stunned and delighted by the "spectacular" results.

"The miracle is that we have achieved these superb results on a less than favourable funding base. With more equitable funding, our results would surpass even these."

She added: "The stunning GCSEs outcomes demonstrate why our schools really are the jewel in the crown of the council."

But Mr Williams was keen to point out how high-achieving pupils in Bury do not enjoy their success at the expense of those with poorer academic qualifications.

"In terms of pupils leaving school with at least one GCSE, Bury came fourth in the entire country. Only 2.2 per cent of our pupils left school without a GCSE."

He was also delighted that Bury has an extremely low truancy rate. Only 0.6 per cent of half days were lost through unauthorised absence, compared with the national figure of 1.1 per cent.

Many headteachers and education chiefs are ambivalent about the league tables and the way they are interpreted. A school outscoring another is not necessarily better, its academic success may be due to a greater intake of bright pupils.

There are also concerns that the tables could result in the creation of ghettos, with parents sending their children to the high-achieving schools, while other less academically successful schools are left to cope with social problems.

Addressing this, Mr Williams said in his visits to prizegiving and certificates evenings he had been made aware of the broader achievements at every school.

He said: "The schools in Bury are wonderful and they all deserve congratulations, not just those that have done well academically."

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

BURY Grammar Girls took the number one position with 100 per cent of its pupils gaining five or more A*-C GCSE grades. The Boys were close behind with 98 per cent - the same as last year.

But 1998's best performing school, Manchester Jewish Grammar in Prestwich, came in third with 97 per cent. This breaks its winning streak of three years when it recorded 100 per cent success rates.

Miss Caroline Thompson, BGS Girls headteacher, said: "I am absolutely delighted but to be honest, it is what you would expect from a school of this nature."

She added: "I think the performance tables have to be taken with a fairly large pinch of salt because they do not compare like with like. Rating schools against each other is pretty meaningless as you cannot compare selective schools with non-selective schools."

A/AS-LEVELS

THE A-level scores are based on points, with ten points for an A grade, eight for a B and so on. There is also a sliding scale for AS-levels where an A grade is worth 5 points. This year the national average was 16.4 points.

Once again BGS Girls topped the table scoring 27.7 points compared to last year's 25.9 points. The Boys' school fell from 27.4 points to 25 points and Manchester Jewish Grammar also slipped from 23.5 points to 21.1.

Holy Cross College was ahead of its 17 other rival colleges in the Greater Manchester area with a respectable 17.9 points, almost a two-point improvement on last year. It is also ranked first in Greater Manchester for GNVQs, scoring 15.8 points.

College principal Mr Mike O'Hare said: "I am very proud of the fact that Holy Cross has achieved the best A level and GNVQ results of any college in Bury and the surrounding areas of Greater Manchester. It is a real tribute to the hard work of all the staff and students."

Bury College was less successful dropping from 15.6 points in 1998 to 14.7 points this year.

Bury College faculty head, Mr Ken Kerr said: "We are pleased with the achievements of our students and the value added this group attained whilst at college, particularly the 11 students who achieved five A-level passes."

Results success at the double

CONEY Green High School in Radcliffe is celebrating the fact that it has almost doubled the number of pupils who achieved five or more A* to C grades.

Headteacher Mrs Diana Morton said: "It's absolutely outstanding and I am delighted. I think it proves more than ever that if children are motivated and well supported at home and school they can achieve tremendous success."

She added: "It demonstrates the hard work of pupils and staff, many of whom gave extra support to pupils during their dinner hours and after school."

Last year just 29 per cent of students made the grade, but this summer's examinations saw a leap to 53 per cent.

Although Coney Green was one per cent below the average for Bury's schools - ranking eleventh out of 18 - it is still above the national average of 48 per cent.

"Bury is a high scoring authority anyway, so we have done well to be placed where we are," said Mrs Morton.

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