GCSE results: Camden schools celebrate improved grades

By TOM FOOT

A SECONDARY school in Tufnell Park has been named among the five per cent of best performing schools in the country.

Acland Burghley posted a record increase in the number of pupils leaving school with five “good” GCSEs – 57 per cent got five passes in subjects including English and Maths, up almost 20 per cent on its scores in 2006.

It was also named as the best in Camden in a category that compares pupils' expected grades with their actual scores.

The Contextual Value Added score, which takes into account social factors like how many pupils are on free school meals, is considered by education experts to be the best way of rating a school. Parliament Hill secondary school was named in the top 20 per cent of schools nationally.

Across Camden, 51 per cent of pupils achieved the five passes in “good” GCSE – a five per cent improvement last year and edging the national average of 50 per cent. 

The biggest rise was at Hampstead School, where 13 per cent more pupils than last year achieved the scores. 

But despite the record GCSE results, there were signs that more effort could be made in Camden's sixth forms. While 96 per cent of A level students achieved at least two passes, in line with the national average, 90 per cent of students failed to achieve three passes.

Councillor Andrew Mennear, executive member for schools, said: “The increases show that our young people are responding well to the variety of courses on offer in our schools, which is great as these courses have been designed to ensure that more students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life.”