October 15, 2009
SOUTH YORKSHIRE GCSE RESULTS AMONG MOST IMPROVED IN COUNTRY
Rotherham and Barnsley had some of the most improved GCSE results in the country this year.
Both towns made the country’s top 20 list for improvement in the number of pupils achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths.
The proportion of pupils achieving this standard increased by around six per cent, compared to the national average of two per cent.
Nationally in 2009 nearly 70 per cent achieved 5 GCSEs at grade A*-C, compared to just 45% of 15 year olds in 1997.
John Healey said: “Congratulations to pupils, teachers and parents for their hard work. With Rotherham’s results rising above the national average for the first time this year, the figures for 2009 show there has been a real transformation in school standards over the last decade.
“Standards have never been higher but the government is not resting on its laurels and continues to invest to make sure we maintain this kind of progress.”
In Rotherham this year, 67.8 per cent of pupils got 5 A*-C GCSEs, up nearly 10 per cent on last year. This is up from 53 per cent in 2006 and just 37 per cent in 1997.
Spending per pupil has more than doubled from less than £3,000 in 1997/98 to £6,130 in 2009/10 and there are 40,000 more teachers and 120,000 more teaching assistants.