SCHOOLS in North Yorkshire have been ranked top in the region for the progress students have made in their GCSEs in league tables announced by the Government today.

Progress 8 which measures pupil progress from primary to secondary school shows that in Yorkshire and the Humber, pupils in North Yorkshire came out on top and East Yorkshire ranked fourth with York in second place. 

Revised figures published yesterday by the Department for Education show that North Yorkshire is in the top 20 per cent of councils nationally for high academic success at A-level.The proportion of A-level students who attained the highest grades (A*AB or better) is 23.5 per cent in the county, compared with 19.7 per cent nationally.

Comparison with other Local Authority areas shows that York is at the top 20 per cent for Attainment 8 and top 25 per cent level for Progress 8. Attainment 8 is a measure of a pupil’s average grade across eight subjects

Fulford School head teacher, Lorna Savage, said: “We continue to be very proud of the excellent achievement of all the students in our school.

“The performance of our sixth form students was particularly outstanding this year with their results putting Fulford among the very top state schools in the country. This was reflected in Fulford recently being named State School of the Year for the North of England by the Sunday Times. Our exam outcomes establish a great base for our students to build on in their lives ahead.

“The ongoing success of our school is the product of much hard work from our students and staff, the care and opportunities we provide for our students, combined with the great support we receive from the families in our school community.”

Cllr Keith Aspden, executive member for economic development and community engagement, said: “This high-achieving partnership has once again delivered excellent results and the efforts of the students, their families and the dedication of school staff must be applauded.”

Archbishop Holgate’s CE School came out on top in the city for progress at GCSE.

Head teacher Andrew Daly said: “In a city with so many excellent schools it’s fantastic that we have managed to again perform most strongly for student progress this year.

"I would like to congratulate all the students and staff for their outstanding efforts in achieving these results at both GCSE and A-level.”

A Progress 8 score above +0.5 means on average students make more than half a grade better progress across 8 subjects when compared to similar students nationally. With a Progress 8 score of +0.60 (up from +0.53 last year) Archbishop Holgate’s is in the top 5% of schools in the country.

Mr Daly said: “To be ranked in the top five per cent nationally in terms of similar schools at GCSE makes me really proud and reinforces the view of inspectors last year that Archbishop Holgate’s is a school where real opportunities for transformation exist.”

The school has been featured in the Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide for three years running and this year was ranked the third highest performing non-selective state school in the North of England based on attainment at GCSE which saw 61% of students achieve at least one A/A* or 7/8/9 in the new grading structure.

At A-level, the school’s Sixth Form results were equally as strong with 76 per cent of all entries graded at A*-B and an Alps analysis score which has ranked A Level performance for the last three years in the top two per cent nationally compared to the outcomes of 2,817 schools and colleges in the UK.

Francesca De Lashley, Director of Archbishop Holgate’s Sixth Form, said: “We are delighted with the outcomes our students achieved last summer. Our consistent outstanding performance and three year placing in the top two per cent for A Level performance demonstrates how hard our students work to achieve strong foundations for their future aspirations. We have a strong ethos within school for hard work and an individual approach to supporting the needs of each student within our care.”

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s executive member for education and skills, said: “This is a very impressive set of results for North Yorkshire and creates a sense of pride for the county.

“These results tell a great story of hard work and commitment on the part of our young people and their teachers.

“They also reflect strong partnership working between schools, the county council, parents and families, teaching school alliances and the diocese.

“We are determined that all students can meet their full potential and that our schools continue to offer excellence and a broad, balanced and appropriate curriculum.”

Cllr Julie Abraham, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s portfolio holder for children, young people and education, said: “We are delighted with the progress that many East Riding schools have brought about this year.

“This is down to the hard work of young people and their families, supported by dedicated school staff.”

Unfortunately we have been unable to publish the local secondary school league tables which have not been supplied as normal by The Press Association.

Click here for the link to the DfE performance tables for York.