SECONDARY school pupils in Birmingham have achieved another significant boost in their GCSE results, according to provisional figures released by Government.

Overall figures reveal that the number of pupils across England with five or more A*-C grade GCSEs rose 4.4 percentage points to 69.7 per cent.

But that is overshadowed by the performance of 16-year-olds in Birmingham, who have taken their level to a new provisional high of 72 per cent – more than five per cent better than last year’s 66.6 per cent.

When the key subjects of English and maths are added, Birmingham’s five or more GCSE figure also rises, from 45.5 per cent to a new high of 47.2 per cent, although this remains below the national average, which rises to 49.7 per cent.

Tony Howell, Birmingham’s strategic director for children, young people and families, said: “This is a real success story. We have consistently improved our performance year-in-year out.

“For a city of the size and complexity to now be performing above the national average is a remarkable achievement. This result is also testimony to the efforts of children and young people and their parents in this city.”

Birmingham’s GCSE improvement is reflected nationally, with almost 70 per cent of pupils obtaining five A*-Cs and 49.7 per cent including the two key subjects.

The statistics come just days after industry leaders expressed concern about how well the education system was equipping school leavers for work.

But Schools Minister Vernon Coaker responded: “It is not just employers who are impatient for further improvements.

“To our critics I say look at the improvements across the board.”

OUR SAY: PAGE 14