ONLY six schools in Bolton saw their GCSE results improve, official figures out today reveal.

The secondary school performance tables — based on pupils’ results in last summer’s GCSE exams — show that the majority of schools saw a drop in pass rates. Some experienced more than a ten per cent dip in the numbers of children achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs.

But Margaret Asquith, Director of Children’s Services, stressed that the pass rates were above the national average of 53.4 per cent.

She said: “We are really proud of the achievements of all our young people and would like to congratulate them for all their hard work.

“There have been some changes to the way GCSEs have been calculated this year, which is why we have seen a slight dip in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades including maths and English, and this is in line with what other authorities are experiencing across the country.

“However, we are still above the national average at 57.3 per cent and some of our schools have recorded some fantastic improvements. Pupils, teachers and parents should be proud of what they have achieved in both GCSE and vocational subjects.”

Schools which posted an increase in the numbers of children gaining the benchmark of five or more A* to C GCSEs including English and maths were Bolton School girls’ division, Thornleigh Salesian College in Astley Bridge, St Joseph’s RC College in Horwich, Ladybridge High School and Kearsley Academy.

Thornleigh Salesian College recorded a five per cent increase in its pass rate – the largest in the borough – with 73 per cent of its young people leaving school having achieved the benchmark standard.

Headteacher Alison Burrowes said: “The results that we achieved this summer were a culmination of the hard work and dedication of every member of staff and student here at Thornleigh Salesian College.

"Our relentless pursuit of excellence permeates everything that we do here and there is a palpable sense of ambition which has results in this outstanding set of results. We are proud of the progress that every students has made."

Kearsley Academy, Ladybridge High School and St Joseph’s RC School saw a two per cent increase in the numbers of young people achieving the benchmark.

At Kearsley Academy, more than half of the pupils are leaving year 11 having achieved the grades to a bright future.

School leaders said that not only did the pass rate increased , it also recorded an increase in the number of A and A* passes, making it a record breaking GCSE year for the academy.

Principal, Suzanne Pountain, said: "The Academy is going from strength to strength and we are delighted with our year-on-year improvement.

“Supported by the efforts of staff, our students have achieved an excellent platform now to go onto post-16 courses in our high performing sixth form where over 70 per cent of the grades this year were in the top A*-B category.

“It is all part of the continuing success story of Kearsley Academy."

Top of the league tables were the girls at Bolton School where 97 per cent – an increase of one per cent on last year – achieved the standard.

Headmistress, Sue Hincks, said: “I am delighted that the girls achievement has been recognised in this way, although in reality every girl achieves five A* to C grades here, including maths and English. Unfortunately, girls who take their maths exam early are not counted in the percentage.”

Cllr Kevin McKeon, the council's Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “I understand how much hard work goes into achieving good GCSE results and it really is a collaboration of pupils, teachers and parents.

“ I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and determination in achieving the best results possible. I would like to wish our young people the best in the future.”

Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah, a small Islamic boys' school in Willows Lane, Deane, also improved its A* - C rate to 26 per cent.