Birmingham pupils shine as GCSE results improve across region
West Midlands pupils achieved overall improvements in last summer’s GCSE results, new figures showed today.
Birmingham schools showed a significant increase in the proportion of its 16-year-olds achieving the benchmark GCSE score set by the Government.
The percentage of the city’s pupils obtaining at least five GCSEs, including English and maths, at the top A* to C grade has risen from 45.5 per cent in 2008 to 47.7 per cent based on last year’s exams.
That keeps it significantly above the average for similar core cities such as Liverpool and Manchester, which stands at 42.7 per cent, and when compared with its neighbouring authorities, which average out at just over 44 per cent.
While the city remains below the national average of just under 50 per cent, the gap is gradually narrowing with the rest of England and is now less than three per cent behind.
At the same time, Birmingham has also achieved a marked leap in the previous Government GCSE benchmark, which did not automatically include English and maths.
The proportion of city pupils achieving at least five A*-C grades improved from 66.4 per cent in 2008 to 72.4 per cent last year, which also puts it above the national average of 70 per cent.
Birmingham’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, Coun Les Lawrence, said: “Nationally, this city is gaining recognition as an education powerhouse and we were recently praised by the Secretary of State for the work we do addressing underachievement.
“We are immensely proud of our schools, teachers and school staff, pupils and all those involved in this success story.
“Having said this, we are not complacent and know there is more to be done. But I believe our reputation for consistent improvement should be acknowledged.”
One of the biggest areas of improvement has been the massive reduction in the number of Birmingham secondary schools at risk of government intervention due to poor or unsatisfactory GCSE.
Ministers have set the target at 30 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A*-C passes including English and maths, but the number of city schools in this “at risk” category has halved in just 12 months, from 20 to ten.
One of those to shed its National Challenge status – in dramatic style – is George Dixon International in City Road, Edgbaston.
It has sensationally improved its GCSE performance from just 21 per cent of pupils achieving the key target in 2008 to 41 per cent now.
The school is currently being run by Sheldon Heath deputy head Anthony Hamilton, who has taken over as associate head of George Dixon following the absence of head Wilma Brandy on long-term sick leave.
Mr Hamilton said: “These results are nothing to do with me as I only came here in September, but the feeling is we will hit 40 per cent again this year and could go to 42 per cent.
“All stakeholders in the school, from the governing body to teachers, particularly in English and maths, have played a part in this significant improvement.
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