FOCUSING on getting pupils to master English and maths has seen Ripon College double the number of its students making the grade and earned it the title of the most improved secondary school in the region.
The North Yorkshire school has finished in the top 30 in the country in a league table of schools which have improved their GCSE results year-on-year between 2004 and 2007.
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League tables in full »Hear education correspondent John Roberts debate the issues-------------------------------------------
Four years ago only 22 per cent of Ripon College pupils achieved five A* to C GCSE grades, including English and maths.
But last summer 44 per cent reached the standard, meaning the school enjoyed the most improved results in Yorkshire and the 27th most improved across the country.
Ripon College faces competition for pupils from the city's grammar school which can select its children on the basis of their academic ability.
College deputy headteacher Suzanne Henderson said its achievement was made more impressive because the school was working with a mixed intake of pupils. Until last year schools were measured on what percentage of pupils achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE. But in last year's league tables a new gold standard was introduced which rates schools on the level of candidates who achieve five good GCSE grades, including English and maths.
The new standard was introduced because of fears that improving exam results through vocational qualifications were masking the number of students who failed to pick up GCSEs in English and maths. However the gold standard suits Ripon College where staff have been focusing on improving the key subjects for several years.
Mrs Henderson said: "We have done an awful lot of work with literacy in the school and since 2004 there has been a lot of professional development work with staff in English and maths to make sure the lessons we are delivering are top class."
Other schools in Yorkshire which featured in the top 200 most improved in the country and received congratulations from schools Minister Jim Knight were: Rawthorpe High in Huddersfield, Hemsworth Arts and Community College, Hall Cross School in Doncaster, Crofton High School in Wakefield, Beckfoot School in Bingley, Immanuel CE Community College in Bradford and Manor CE School in York.
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