Grammar schools lead the way at GCSE

Head teacher Mike Cook with pupils Alfie Mitchell and Rowan Grainger at Heckmondwike Grammar School

The school, which selects pupils on the basis of ability, was one of three in the region which saw all of its pupils achieve the benchmark of at least five GCSEs A* to C including English and maths.

It was ranked highest in tables published yesterday as it had the highest average point score per student in last summer’s exams.

The West Yorkshire school was also the highest ranked in the region for the performance of pupils in sixth form.

The region’s selective grammar schools dominated the top of the table for GCSE performance.

Crossley Heath in Halifax also saw 100 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C including English and maths while Skipton Girls’ High School, and Ermysted’s Grammar, a boys’ school in the town, both saw 99 per cent make the grade. Ripon Grammar had 98 per cent of pupils achieve the GCSE benchmark and North Halifax Grammar had 97 per cent.

Bradford Girls’ Grammar School was the highest performing private school in the region with 100 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSEs including English and maths.

It has since left the independent sector at the start of this academic year to become one of the Government’s flagship free schools.

Heckmondwike Grammar’s head teacher Mike Cook said: “You would expect with a selective school to have very high standards but it does take some sustaining and it takes a lot of hard work from the staff and pupils and support from our families.

“Attainment is of course important but the progress pupils make is also important and we would not be doing our job if we did not ensure that pupils improve - even though they might be joining us are exceptionally proud of the progress pupils make at our school.”

Mr Cook also paid tribute to the success of the school’s sixth form.

He said: “Our sixth form is unusual in that we take on a large number of pupils from a wide range of areas.

“There are 609 pupils in our sixth form and of that about half of those are pupils who have come through Heckmondwike Grammar.”

Heckmondwike Grammar is also an academy.