ATHERTON community school has come under fire from parents claiming their children's grades have gone down since joining the sixth form.

Last week the school celebrated their 100% pass rate for A level students however parents and students at AS level were left angry and dumbfounded at their children's failed results, after claims teachers told parents their children were working at A and B level.

Parent Rachel McLean, whose daughter is in the sixth form said: "My own daughter has just wasted a year there having left high school with 10 grade Bs at GCSE - a fairly credible academic record to begin an A/S level course with one would think.

"Others studying with her had similar or in some cases better results.

"They have all completed this year with a set of Ds, Es and Us having been told all year they were working at A and B level.

"I'm particularly outraged that all year we were assured that our children were working at A and B level.

"Mocks have been marked at A and B level, students have been given certificates for outstanding work, then they all get Ds, Es and Us on results day.

"In geography AS there were two, yes two, students in the class and they both came out with U grades.

"What has that teacher been doing all year?

"I really feel for the students who got disappointing AS results last year, resat the year and have still ended up with nothing of any use.

"Two years wasted with nothing to show for it, how will that look on their CVs in the future?

"The fact that the college has accepted no responsibility or acknowledged any need to improve is both insulting and arrogant."

Another parent Lorraine Bedson has had two daughters attend Atherton Community College and said it was "the worst decision they ever made".

She said: "When my middle daughter left school in 2013 she achieved As and Bs in her GCSE and I was told at sixth form parents evening that she was working at a level C and above in all the subjects and was on target to do really well in her AS level exam- she failed.

"The headteacher tried to say it was her fault, she hadn't worked hard enough etc so when I pointed out that all the others failed he went on the defensive and said that a couple had passed but only five students out of the whole intake progressed to year 13.

"When my youngest left school last year she got all As and Bs too and, despite my misgivings, she enrolled there and she and her sister ended up in the same year.

"Once again I was told they were working at C or above and should do well in their exams and once again they failed.

"I know there are two students off to uni and well done to them but two kids out of 30 or more is questionable, I am sure they worked hard but from what my daughters have told me they got one on one tuition as they were the only ones in the classes they were taking.

"My middle daughter wasted two years there with nothing to show for it and my youngest a year."

A spokesperson for Atherton Community School said the school and sixth form did not wish to comment.