League tables allow Bury to shine again

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 15 January 2007

The latest secondary school GSCE achievement league tables have once again proved that Bury schools have what it takes when it comes to good education.

Latest figures show not only that Bury is a good overall local authority but when the English and Maths results are included, results show that our schools outperform the rest of the country.

Eleni Ioannides Executive Director of Children’s Services said: "These results clearly shows that we have focussed on what is truly important for our children and young people by concentrating on good basic education as well as opening opportunities in other subject areas".

Several significant changes have been made to the standard performance tables this year placing greater emphasis on 5+ A*-C (including English and Maths). This is the first year that this formula has been applied to figures and Bury has achieved astonishing results.

Figures for Level 2 and Level 1 in functional English and Maths have been included for the first time this year and once again, Bury has performed better than the England average in these two indicators, significantly so at Level 1.

Within the borough’s performance there are some outstanding individual school performances, not only in relation to GCSE (and equivalent) results but also in relation to the contextual value added scores which measure the progress that children make during their time in secondary education.

Councillor Maggie Gibb, executive member for children and young people said: "Bury has a remarkable track record in education and consistently outperforms local authorities across the country. We are extremely lucky to have such dedicated teaching staff and such hardworking enthusiastic children, they are our future."

Bury also has lower than the national average figures when it comes to absence from school, with 6.6per cent authorised absence from school against a national average of 6.8 per cent and 0.7 per cent against a national average of 1.3 per cent for unauthorised absence.