Praise for local GCSE results

TWO local schools are in the top 100 most improved in the country.

Official school by school results show that Saddleworth School increased the number of pupils getting five or more GCSEs at A*-C grade including English and maths from 47-per-cent in 2006 to 67-per-cent in 2009.

Failsworth saw improvement from 23-per-cent to 47-per-cent.

Both schools were included on the list of top 100 improving schools by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “I’m delighted that Saddleworth School has seen such a big rise in its results — not just last year but over the last three years.

“It’s the 77th most sustained improved school in the whole country.

“It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the pupils and staff at the school, including the headteacher, Patricia Cornish.”

Labour’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls added: “Congratulations to all the pupils, staff and governors.

“This is a great achievement which everybody involved in the school can be truly proud of and I hope Saddleworth School will go from strength to strength in the years to come.”

Mr Woolas said Tory comments claiming there had not been improvements in school achievement were an “insult” to the hard work put in across the borough.

The Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb MP claimed in the Commons: “We have not seen improvements in our education system despite the billions that have been spent.”