Record year 63 per cent gain 5 A*-C GCSEs

GCSE RESULTS 2008

Head teachers came out in force to pay tribute to Oldham’s students who between them notched up record-breaking GCSE results.

More students than ever before have achieved good grades, with 63 per cent gaining five or more A* to C passes — up 4 per cent on last year.

It is the eighth consecutive year that Oldham pupils have taken a leap forward in English and maths, with 42 per cent of the 3,100 pupils who took GCSEs in the borough gaining the benchmark A* to C grade in the subjects.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, sent her congratulations to all students who had worked hard to achieve the results.

Their achievements mirrored national record-breaking results, with one in five exams awarded top A * or A grades — despite the number of entries dipping to a five-year low of 5.6 million, 200,000 fewer than last year.

The new Failsworth School broke all its GCSE records, reporting its best-ever set of results to finish among the top 5 per cent of schools in the country.

It was the third set of improving results on the trot, with the figure for the benchmark five A* to C grades rising by a huge 12 per cent to 67 per cent.

Headteacher David Johnson said: “I am very proud that all our pupils gained a qualification, and only nine out of 300 attained fewer than five qualifications. These are simply magnificent results.”

Kaskenmoor School also reported its best-ever results, and headteacher John Alder said: “The number of pupils gaining five A*-C grades is rising each year and we have hit the government target of 30 per cent of pupils gaining five A*-C grades including English and maths a year ahead of schedule.”

The number of A* grades at The Radclyffe School more than trebled, rising by a mammoth 100 to 147.

Pupils also totted up a total of 254 A grades, with 61 per cent achieving five A* to C grades, and 33 per cent incluing English and maths. Headteacher Hardial Hayer said they were “super results,” and testimony to the hard work of students and staff.

At Crompton House School, 89.5 per cent of pupils earned five A* to C grades, with 83 per cent including English and maths.

Twenty-five pupils were celebrating after achieving all A* or A grades, and four — Henry Hesten, Sara Dawson, Fiona Simmons and Rachael Withnell —achieved 10 A* grades — a first for the school.

GCSE results improved for the fourth year running at Our Lady’s School, and hit a new high of 69 per cent of pupils achieving five or more higher grades.

A total of 35 per cent included English and maths A* to C grades, and 96 per cent achieved at least five passes, and 98 per cent at least one pass.

Girls outstripped the boys at Hulme Grammar School with their A* and A grades —40 per cent of the girls achieved eight or more passes at the top grades, with 10 per cent of the boys matching their achievements.

Counthill School was still working on getting final figures, but was predicting the number of students achieving five or more grade A* to C passes would top 50 per cent for the second year running.

Headteacher Margaret Ryan said she was delighted with students’ achievements.

And she highlighted the success of a group of 21 pupils who took part in a national pilot to boost the exam chances of students on the borderline of achieving five A* to C grades.
Outstanding performances came from Niall Bradley, who gained 10, when he had only been given a 32 per cent chance of getting five, and Dean Broadhead, who was given a 29 per cent chance to gain five, but achieved nine A* to C grades.

At Oldham Sixth Form College, 72 per cent of students on re-sits passed at grades A* to C.

Results and pictures — See accompanying items