Brighton and Hove's GCSE results improve despite national dip

GCSE results improved in Brighton and Hove even though nationally they fell for the first time since the exam replaced GCE O levels and CSEs.

The percentage of pupils achieving the benchmark five A* to C grades including English and maths has risen to about 56 per cent, up from 52.8 per cent.

And Hove Park School had one of the biggest increases in the country – from 44 per cent to 60 per cent.

Brighton and Hove City Council said that the results were the first since schools adopted the advice of the Secondary Schools Commission which was set up to improve performance.

The commission included local and national experts and its recommendations were implemented after £350,000 was allocated by the council.

Expert staff were seconded to support schools in need of help with specific subjects, especially the core subjects of English, maths and science.

And under the strategic director in charge of education and children’s services, Terry Parkin, schools have been encouraged to work together and focus on improved teaching.

Mr Parkin, who is due to leave the council in the next few months, has also overseen the best Key Stage 2 results by primary school leavers in Brighton and Hove this year.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chairman of the council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “We’re now seeing year on year rises in performance at all levels, from early years through Key Stage 2 and GCSEs to A levels.

“Our teachers have been willing to try new strategies to secure improvements in pupil performance and I’d like to thank them for their hard work and the flexibility they have shown.

“I would like to particularly congratulate staff and students at Hove Park for the exceptional progress they have made this year.

“There is clear evidence that the strategies we have put in place to improve results are paying off and that schools have risen to the challenge of improving performance.

“But there is still a way to go before we’re delivering the outstanding education in all our schools that residents deserve.”

The national average is more than 69 per cent compared with 56 per cent in Brighton and Hove.

The table below shows the provisional results by school in the benchmark five A* to C grades including English and maths.