Lots to celebrate as more achieve highest grades

The number A or A* grades achieved by pupils in Yorkshire rose to 18.7 per cent – up from 17.8 per cent last year and 13 per cent in 2002.

Almost two-thirds of exam papers were marked as grade C or above, a rise of two per cent on last year and up from 51.9 per cent in 2002.

In North Yorkshire, Hull and Leeds the schools scored their best ever results, while Calderdale, East Riding and Doncaster also reported improvements from last year.

Nationally results were also continuing to improve, with London seeing the biggest boost in grades.

The results, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications yesterday, revealed that overall girls are still outperforming boys, continuing the trend of the past two decades.

They also showed that French has dropped out of the list of the 10 most popular GCSE courses for the first time in living memory, as modern foreign languages saw another massive slump in entries.

Overall nearly seven in 10 entries were awarded at least a C grade, and almost one in four achieved an A or A*. The A*-C pass rate rose for the 23rd year in a row.

The gender gap has widened slightly at grade A-A* although boys did outperform girls in maths for the second year running.

Brian Lightman, general secretary elect of Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "The gender gap was more to do with the examining system than what children actually learn. Girls do better at coursework, and boys do better when sitting structured exams."

Across North Yorkshire, the proportion of pupils achieving five GCSE passes at A*-C, including English and Maths, increased by four per cent to 63 per cent. The national average is 51 per cent.

Coun John Watson, executive member for schools, said: "Pass rates including English and Maths have increased markedly in many schools showing what schools and the local authority can achieve together."

The Mount School in York said they had achieved their best ever results, with an overall pass rate of 100 per cent and 97 per cent gaining five A* to C grades.

Principal Julie Lodrick, said: We are especially pleased that they have achieved outstanding grades in addition to all the other extra curricular activities they are involved with."

In Hull 42 per cent of pupils have achieved five A*-C grades, including English and maths, which is an increase of five percent from last year.

The number of students achieving five A*-C grades overall has also increased to 76 per cent, from 65 per cent last year.

Coun Christine Randall, portfolio holder for education and children's services, said: "These results are an important step for Hull and show that we really are a city on the up."

Record results were achieved in Doncaster where 52 per cent achieved the national Government benchmark in attaining five or more grades at A*-C, including English and Maths – a nine per cent increase on last year's performance.

And out of 3,551 students entered, 83 per cent have achieved five or more A*-C grades overall, an increase of 11 per cent on 2009.

Doncaster Council's cabinet member for children, Coun Andrea Milner, said: "This time last year we had three schools each having less than 30 per cent of pupils achieving at least five higher GCSE grades, including English and Maths.

"This year's performance demonstrates we are now making real progress in narrowing the national gap and that none of our schools are below the Government threshold which is a fantastic achievement."

In East Riding improved results were achieved for the fifth successive year, with seven out of eighteen school exceeding 80 per cent for five A*-C passes.

And in Leeds more young people than ever achieved at least five A* - C grades following a five per cent improvement on last year.