Dorset's students top GCSE league tables

STUDENTS have ‘stepped up to the mark’ and topped the county’s GCSE league tables once again at the Thomas Hardye School.

A total of 89 per cent of students at the Dorchester school achieved at least five A* to C grades in last year’s exams, according to the league tables released today.

This was up three per cent on last year’s ‘outstanding’ league table result, which had boosted the school’s 2007 figure by 10 per cent.

Across the county, an average of 70 per cent of school leavers achieved at least five A* to C grades in any GCSE subject, while 57 per cent achieved five or more A* to C grades, including maths and English.

The latest figures put Thomas Hardye ahead of every comprehensive school in Dorset for Key Stage 4 results and just a few places behind some of the county’s private schools.

Headteacher Dr Iain Melvin said: “I’m very happy that we’ve improved again. That’s the secret – to keep doing it.

“We now have continuity, which is very, very good.

“There’s a strong aspirational culture in the school.

“We work very well with our students and we’re blessed with very good teachers.

“We’re relentlessly optimistic about their capacity and they continually step up the mark.”

In Weymouth, students at Budmouth Technology College topped the board with 79 per cent achieving five or more top grades.

Principal David Akers said: “It’s not just the A*s to Cs – we’ve had great success stories with youngsters who’ve achieved at different levels.”

Wey Valley School and Sports College celebrated a 14 per cent improvement on 2008 figures – 44 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades, including maths and English, and 63 per cent achieved at least five top grades overall.

Headteacher Phil Thomas said he was ‘very happy’ that the new teaching and learning strategies developed over the past four years were starting to pay off.

He added: “We’re looking to continue with the significant improvement this year.”

Pupils at All Saints School in Wyke Regis also celebrated improved league table results, with 76 per cent of school leavers achieving five or more A* to C grades – up four per cent from 2008 figures.

Headteacher Tim Balmforth was delighted that the school had broken the 70 per cent barrier for a third year.

He said: “It’s good news – the children did very well, which is a tribute to them, their parents and our staff.

“But league tables only show a small proportion of what schools are about.

“There are more important aspects like being well-rounded individuals and educating the whole child, which we do very well.”

Results have also improved at the Royal Manor Arts College on Portland.

Some 58 per cent of pupils gained five or more GCSEs at A* to C in any GCSE subject – up on the figure of 55 per cent last year.

The percentage of pupils gaining five GCSEs at A* to C including English and maths was 37 – above the 29 per cent figure for last year.

Headteacher Paul Green said: “We are delighted that our GCSE 5A* to C results have gone up again this year.

“The very challenging targets we set our students were exceeded. We were particularly delighted with our students’ performance in a range of subjects including English, French and history.

“Our continual improvement year on year is a direct result of good teaching, high levels of student motivation and tremendous parental support.”

He added: “It is important to note that many of our students also followed and achieved great success in a wide range of vocational and applied learning qualifications which are not recognised in these tables.”

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