Best results bring joy for catch-up kids
 | | Terry Stacy, the Islington Council Leader, joins Highbury Grove pupils in their celebrations |
TEENAGERS chalked up their best ever GCSE results - meaning that Islington is finally catching up with the rest of the country.
A record 64.4 per cent of 16-year-olds at Islington Council secondary schools gained five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C.
 | | Bob Hamlyn |
This is only just shy of last year's England average, which was 64.8 per cent. This year's England average is not yet available.
The results mean Islington schools improved massively in the past two years. In 2008, only 56.4 per cent got five or more A* to C grades. And in 2007, the figure stood at just 49.3 per cent.
Councillor Paula Belford, Islington Council's executive member for children and young people, said: "More and more students are now leaving Islington schools better prepared for their next phase of life than ever before.
"Parents can have every confidence that their children will receive an education of the highest quality, irrespective of which Islington secondary school they attend."
Islington Council is particularly pleased that 44.4 per cent of GCSE-takers got five A* to Cs including maths and English - a rise of 5.5 percentage points, and just shy of last year's England average of 47 per cent.
The council pointed out that all its schools now met the Government's benchmark of 30 per cent getting five A* to Cs including maths and English.
In 2007, Holloway, Highbury Grove and Islington Arts and Media (IAMS) failed to meet the 30 per cent target and were told to improve by 2011 or risk closure.
By 2008, Highbury Grove and IAMS had met the target, but Holloway still languished behind with only 26 per cent making the grade. It finally met the target this year.
Peter Rees, chair of governors at Holloway School in Hilldrop Road, Holloway, said: "These fantastic GCSE results are the best ever in the history of the school. They are the result of tremendous hard work and determined leadership of the headteacher and his staff, who have completely transformed Holloway School in recent years.
"This has taken place at a time when the school is in temporary accommodation while being rebuilt under the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme."
Holloway headteacher Bob Hamlyn said: "I am absolutely thrilled for our students. Together with our dedicated staff they worked incredibly hard for these results. We have exceeded our targets, and those of the government, to put on us a firm footing for future improvement."
Islington Council's opposition Labour group warned that the authorities must not become complacent - because Islington is still towards the bottom of the league tables.
Councillor Richard Watts, Islington Labour's education spokesman, said: "I am delighted for the kid's that passed but sorry that the Lib-Dems continue to be so complacent about Islington's performance. We remain towards the bottom of the GCSE results league table, and below the London average."
Opening up to top-class future...
A ONCE struggling school that re-opened as a city academy improved its GCSE results.
City of London Academy Islington, in Prebend Street, is celebrating after 55 per cent of GCSE-takers achieved five or more A* to C grades.
Last year, when it was still Islington Green - and known for being the school that Tony Blair snubbed - the figure was only 49 per cent.
City of London Academy Islington also saw 39 per cent of GCSE-takers get five A* to Cs including English and maths. Last year's result was only 31 per cent.
The school's two top performing students - Mohammed Al-Sakban and Arnold Duralliu - achieved 18 As and A*s between them.
Ann Palmer, the academy's principal, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the progress students have made this year.
"We look forward to the new Academy building which is due to open next year, which I am sure will only serve to enhance these results further."
The City of London Academy Islington opened in September 2008, with City University and the City of London Corporation as its sponsors.
|
|
|