Bristol schools improve GCSE results

Release Date:  21-Aug-2008

Provisional GCSE results for Bristol schools show an improvement of 3.5 percentage points this year. This brings the percentage of students gaining five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and Maths to 35%.

These results build on significant improvement over the last five years, and show continuing progress in raising standards in Bristol schools.

Between 2004 and 2008, the number of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and Maths - the government's key performance measure - rose by 9 percentage points.

Over the same five year period, the percentage of students achieving five or more GCSEs overall increased by 17 percentage points, to 52%.

Leader of Bristol City Council, Councillor Helen Holland, said: “Well done to everyone who has worked so hard to gain these important qualifications.  Results across Bristol are a step in the right direction.  This shows how schools and the council together can really make a difference for children and young people in our city.  We will continue to work hard to sustain and build on these improved results.”

Bristol's Director of Children and Young People's Services, Heather Tomlinson, adds: “Credit is due to all the parents, carers, teachers, governors and, of course, the young people, whose hard work has contributed to these encouraging results. Parents can be confident that Bristol schools are delivering a quality education and are committed to further improving the achievement of all children and young people.”

When the new school year starts in September, five new academies are opening in Bristol, bringing the total number of academy schools in the city to seven. This includes two former independent schools - Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Colston's Girls' School - which have chosen to join the state sector.  

As well as the new academies, Brislington Enterprise College will be moving into brand new buildings, designed as 'schools within a school' for the new term and the first all-through trust school in the country, the Bridge Learning Campus will launch before moving into new premises in January.

Introducing academy schools creates greater diversity within the school system, giving parents a wider choice of opportunities for their children. Academies are independent, non-selective, state-funded schools and are a new part of the mix of education available in Bristol. The involvement of sponsors also allows them to bring their particular skills and expertise to the academy.

Over the last five years, more than £250 million has been invested in renewing secondary school buildings and resources in Bristol, creating strong foundations for sustained improvement. This figure includes the council's own capital resources and the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and the academy programme. Bristol will be the first council in the country to rebuild or refurbish all its secondary schools.

Up to 60 per cent of Bristol schools are now “extended schools” and provide activities over and above the normal school curriculum, and beyond the school day, including weekends and school holidays. This includes study support, sport and music clubs, parenting and family support, and making facilities such as sports grounds and computer suites available for community use.

Councillor Holland adds: “ We owe it to our young people to do everything we can to help them fulfil their potential. We have already set in motion a number of measures that are bringing about improved results and we are determined to keep up the momentum of positive change. Raising school standards is at the heart of all our work with children and young people.”

Author:   Katharine de Lisle - 0117 922 2732

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

To link to this page directly, use the URL
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-27726258

Subscribe to our free email bulletin service and get the latest news and information about consultations and events happening in the city - www.bristol.gov.uk/newsdirect