SCHOOLS in Bolton posted record-breaking results — while nationally the proportion of GCSEs being awarded top grades fell for the first in the exam’s 24-year history.

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The numbers of pupils gaining five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths, soared by more than 10 per cent in some schools.

Director of Children’s Services, Margaret Asquith, said: “We are really pleased with Bolton's results in this year's GCSEs and equivalent qualifications. Year after year our results have improved as a whole and this year is no different.

“More than 60 per cent of pupils achieved A* to C including English and maths, which is a 15 per cent improvement over three years.

“More than 86.5 per cent of Bolton’s pupils have managed to gain five or more A* to C grades, which represents nearly a two per cent improvement on last year and is the borough’s best ever performance.”

At Ladybridge High School 60.4 per cent of pupils achieved at least five good grade GCSEs, including English and math.

The pass rate for those gaining five or more A* to C grades stood at 95 per cent, an increase of nine per cent.

Headteacher Hilary D’Arcy said: “The achievement of every single child at Ladybridge matters hugely to us and I am so pleased we have many remarkable achievements to celebrate.”

At Thornleigh Salesian College results were up from 10 per cent, with 68 per cent of pupils gaining the benchmark and 99 per cent of pupils gained five or more top grades, which was also up by six per cent.

Headteacher Alison Burrowes said: “ This is tribute to the staff whose relentless determination to ensure that every student achieved their personal best has paid off.

“I congratulate the students who worked so hard and aspired to achieve the highest grades possible.”

Records were also broken at Mount St Joseph in Farnworth which had a 10 per cent increase.

The pupils achieved 71 per cent five or A* to C, including English and maths.

Headteacher Paul Roach said: “These are the highest results the school has ever achieved and exceed the targets set by the local authority and governors by 20 per cent.

“These outstanding results have been achieved through the hard work and dedication shown by all the students and staff.”

At Rivington and Blackrod High School in Horwich 66 per cent of pupils achieved the standard required, a nine per cent increase on last year, and 92 per cent gained five or more top grades.

Headteacher Tony Purcell said: “Well done to all students. Their results reflect the hard work and dedication the students have put into their education and we must thank staff and parents for their total support in helping these young people to achieve.”

Bolton St Catherine’s Academy toasted its new building with a bumper crop of results.

The number of students achieving the gold standard increased by three per cent to 45 per cent, with more results still to come.

Assistant principal Lee Schofield said: “It has been another fantastic year for our students and all their hard work and effort has been rewarded, we are enormously proud of everything they have achieved.”

Harper Green School in Farnworth posted results which were one per cent up on last year, with 43 per cent of pupils making the grade.

Headteacher, Robert Flood, said: “We have a long-term mission to inspire and support each and every student to succeed, and this year’s results show that we are heading in the right direction.”

Little Lever School increased its results to 64 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSEs grades GCSEs including English and maths, up by two per cent, while 84 per cent achieved at least five good GCSEs.

Headteacher Philip Hewitt said: “This reflects a positive three year trend which has seen our results improve year on year.”

Essa Academy’s results showed 97 per cent of pupils gained five or more A* to C GCSEs and 50 per cent of pupils could count English and maths among their top grades.

Westhoughton School reported 57 per cent of its pupils achieving the benchmark, up by four per cent on last year.

Headteacher Phil Hart said: “There are some outstanding individual achievements by students who have put in an incredible amount of effort and our teachers have yet again done extremely well in preparing students for these exams.”

Canon Slade School reported 86 per cent of students achieved the benchmark 90 per cent achieved five or more good grades. Of those 35 per cent of grades were at A* or A.

Canon Philip Williamson, headteacher, said: “In addition to achievements on GCSE courses many students performed magnificently on other programmes of study such as BTEC and ASDAN courses.”

Teenagers at Turton School in Bromley Cross smashed the 80 per cent five A* to C for the first time in the school’s history.

The school posted that 83 per cent of its students achieved that result, five per cent up on last year.

Headteacher John Porteous said: “They have achieved some fantastic results both individually and collectively, which is a great credit to their own effort and intelligence, to the expert guidance of their teachers and mentors and to the invaluable support of parents and families.”

Bolton Muslim Girls School saw a rise in the number of its students gaining the English Baccularate, which has increased by 14 per cent on last year and currently stands at 48 per cent.

Headteacher Mubaaruck Ibrahim said: “The percentage of learners gaining five or more A* to C GCSEs is once again impressive at 99 per cent reflecting the hard work and commitment of our learners, parents, staff and school.”

St James’ CE School in Farnworth saw results in maths and the English literature GCSE rise to 89 per cent.

Headteacher Tania Lewyckyj said: “ We are really pleased how our pupils and staff have worked so hard this year.”

Bolton School boys’ division posted perfect results with 100 per cent of its pupils gaining five or more A* to C GCSEs including English and maths. At the Girls’ Division that figure was 97.3 per cent Headmistress, Sue Hincks said: “We are particularly proud of our success in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and in modern foreign languages.”

Headmaster, Philip Britton, said: ‘Excellent GCSE grades open up plentiful choices for the future.”

Sharples School Class of 2012 achieved the best ever 'gold standard' results including English and mathematics.

The results were 67 per cent five or more A* to C including English and maths.

Headteacher Lynne Porter said: “ This is a fantastic achievement for the students.”

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