Secondary school league tables published
Statistics published today by the Department for Education show GCSE and A Level results for all secondary schools
THE Downs School in Compton has once again come out as the top district state school in the annual GCSE league tables, while Kennet School in Thatcham has topped the A-level league table in West Berkshire.
The official results, published today (Wednesday) by the Department for Education, show improvements in most West Berkshire schools at GCSE level, with John O'Gaunt Community Technology College recording the biggest improvement in the percentage of pupils achieving A* to C grades in at least five subjects, including English and Maths, increasing from just 18 per cent last year to 59 per cent this year.
The Downs School maintained its position at the top of the GCSE league table locally, increasing its percentage from 71 to 74 per cent, while Kennet School and St Bartholomew's School were close behind, scoring 72 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.
The district average for West Berkshire also improved to 60.7 per cent - 5.5 per cent higher than the national average for maintained schools only.
St Gabriel's School in Newbury was the top performing independent school at GCSE level, with 100 per cent of pupils attaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and Maths.
Meanwhile, Kennet School topped the A-level league table for state schools in West Berkshire with an average point score per pupil of 926.3 - an improvement on last year's score of 891.0.
Last year's top performing school at A-level, St Bartholomew's School in Newbury, fell in the rankings, with its average point score per pupil falling from 958.6 to 817.0.
However, St Bart's, along with several other West Berkshire schools, were in line with or above the national average point score per pupil of 726.5, which excludes independent schools, while the West Berkshire local authority average point score per pupil was 764.9.
The top performing West Berkshire independent school at A-level was Downe House School, which recorded an average point score of 1108.8.
For more on this story and reaction from local headteachers, see tomorrow's Newbury Weekly News.