GCSE results in Bolton have fallen below the North West average for the first time in five years.

Figures published by the Department for Education show that 53.7 per cent of school leavers in the area gained five or more A* to C grades including English and maths in the summer.

This was compared to the North West average of 56 per cent and England average of 52.8 per cent and England state-school average of 57 per cent.

Bolton’s pass rate also dipped by more than three percentage points, with last year 56.8 per cent of young people leaving school with the required standard.

Since the academic year 2010/11 teenagers in Bolton have been outperforming their peers nationally and regionally.

In 2010/11, 59.6 per cent of year 11 left schools in Bolton with the benchmark, compared to the North West average of 58.4 per cent and the England average at the time of 59 per cent.

The trend continued until this summer, when results fell.

Bolton celebrated its best ever results in 2012/13 with 60.7 per cent gaining five or more good grades including the core subjects. Results have fallen in Bolton since that academic year – even though in the summer the North West average rose.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “It’s always disappointing when results haven’t improved overall but we saw some fantastic achievements in the summer, so our young people should be proud of their hard work.

“The way GCSEs are measured has changed and we know that schools take these results seriously and are committed and working extremely hard to make future improvements.”

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