Delight for school across Ormskirk in GCSE league table sucesss

Jan 31 2013 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

WEST Lancs pupils achieved another year of impressive results, the GCSE league tables have revealed.

High schools across the borough increased the numbers of pupils achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths.

At Ormskirk School, 76%of pupils achieved five good A* to C grades, up from 68% the year before, and continuing the upward trend since 2009 when it scored 59%.

Head teacher John Doyle said: “The league tables are keenly scrutinised by head teachers because of what they do tell us.

“For example, I look at how the school’s performance has changed over time. In the case of Ormskirk School it’s good to see significant improvement in a lot of our key measures over the last four years.

“It’s good to see that our pupils’ achievement in every respect is now significantly higher than pupils nationally.

“In that respect the league tables support our school’s Ofsted report.”

But Mr Doyle also warned that there were some things the league tables don’t show – such as the impact on performance of staff illness – and urged people to take note of the tables but not to use them as the only comparison.

Several other schools were across the borough were celebrating some impressive increases.

Tarleton Academy went up from 60% last year to 68% this year.

And Scarisbrick Hall achieved 63% – up from 56% the year before.

Meanwhile Up Holland High achieved the highest increase in West Lancashire– from 53% in 2011 to an impressive 69%in 2012 – a rise of 16%. And there was also good news for Glenburn Sport College. Last year it was ranked the lowest in Lancashire with just 29% achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C grade, including English and maths.

The figure this year went up by 10% to 39% – just below the benchmark set by Government.

The picture throughout the county showed results were again above the national average. And county councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, said: “Lancashire's results show that the proportion of pupils leaving school with five or more good passes including English and maths has remained steady overall, and is still above the national average.

“I'd like to congratulate everyone involved for all of their hard work.”