HUNDREDS of secondary schools across the county have met the Government's target for pupil progress at GCSEs.

Statistics show that most of Sussex's mainstream secondary state schools are above a new Government target that measures pupil's over eight GCSE subjects.

Brighton and Hove (0.02) , West Sussex (0.1) and East Sussex (0.04) were all above the national average (-0.03.

The good performance figures follow a county-wide increase in percentage average of students achieving five good GCSEs A*-C. Brighton and Hove (61 per cent), West Sussex (61 per cent) and East Sussex (60) all beat the national average for percentage of students achieving five good GCSEs A*-C last academic year.

It comes as ministers introduced the new headline measure, which looks at progress , instead of judging schools on the proportion of pupils scoring at least five C grades at GCSE, including in English and maths.

The new Progress 8 measure follows a pupil's progress from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school. It compares pupils' results with the achievements of other youngsters with the same prior attainment and measures performance across eight GCSE qualifications.

The Government has argued that this measure is fairer because it takes students' previous achievement into account, and recognises the results of all youngsters A* to G, not just those on the border of C and D grades.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that the figures, based on last summer's GCSE results, showed that the hard work of teachers and pupils is leading to higher standards.

The new league tables have won praise from headteachers in charge of schools traditionally overlooked in league tables but now being recognised for the progress of their pupils. Longhill High School in Rottingdean, Brighton, is among the highest-performing state schools in Brighton and Hove for Progress 8, despite only 56 per cent of pupils achieving five GCSEs A*-C including maths and English.

Headteacher Kate Williams said: "It shows us favourably, which is right, because the pupils at Longhill progress well at Longhill. It's hard work but we have high expectations and high standards of our pupils, and that's exactly why they performed the way they did last academic year giving us the league table position we are in."

But teaching unions have criticised the league tables claiming the data is unreliable and takes up teachers' time.

Phil Clarke, national executive member for Brighton, said: "Does this really genuinely measure progress - we are not sure. The key stage two data, which is used for measuring progress, is too narrow and unreliable. So there are big question marks if the data being used to measure progress is accurate in the first place.

"These league tables lead to teachers spending too much time processing data rather than concentrating on teaching and learning which is paramount."

All schools in Brighton and Hove met the Government's floor target for Progress 8.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s lead member for schools, councillor Dan Chapman, said: “We’re delighted that the finalised GCSE results for Brighton and Hove 2016 confirm us as being above the national state-funded average for both Progress 8.

“More than 80% of our secondary schools are rated ‘good’ by Ofsted – a figure that is also above the national average.

“With our schools now working together more closely than ever before to share best practice and deliver a good education, I fully expect to see further improvements in academic standards in the coming years.”

Nationally the picture was more bleak almost 300 secondary schools not reaching the Government floor target for progress.

‘NEW MEASURE IS A FAIRER REPRESENTATION OF WORK’

TRADITIONALLY league tables have been dominated by the same schools who produce the best results at GCSE.

But this year the Government decided to turn league tables on their head by scrapping measuring a school’s performance by the percentage of pupils who achieved five GCSEs A* to C including English and maths.

Instead it introduced a “fairer” league table which looks at a pupil’s progress from the end of primary school to the start of secondary school.

The new headline measure, Progress 8, compares pupils’ achievements with other youngsters with the same prior attainment and recognises the results of all youngsters (A* to G) across eight qualifications.

The state school league tables in Brighton and Hove have not changed too much with the traditionally stronger academic schools at the top. Dorothy Stringer School, in Loder Road, Brighton, where 73 per cent of pupils gained five good GCSEs including maths and English, retained its place at top of the table for progress.

Headteacher Richard Bradford, who is also chairman of the Brighton Hove School Secondary Partnership, said: “We welcome the new tables, particularly the inclusion of Progress 8, as this shows the progress that students make from their starting point. This provides a much fairer representation of the positive impact our schools have in helping students reach their potential, regardless of their prior attainment.

“We were very proud of the effort our students made last year to challenge themselves to do their best. The tables reflect this hard work and the students’ excellent personal academic achievements in their exams.”

Interestingly, some schools at the bottom of the league table last year reappeared at the bottom this year.

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, where 51 per cent of pupils got five GCSEs A* to C including English and maths, was the lowest-performing school in the city and below national average for Progress 8. Principal Dylan Davies said he was determined to increase performance: “We have made significant progress in the last couple of years and this has been recognised by our Ofsted ‘good’ this month and in our GCSE results last August. We are determined to continue that progress, both in terms of exam results and in equipping our students with the skills to succeed in their further education and their careers.”

But will this new league table make choosing schools any easier for parents?

The National Union of Teachers thinks not.

Phil Clarke, national executive member for Brighton, said : “I would suggest to parents looking for a school for their children to spend far more emphasis on visiting the school, talking to teachers and parents and finding a school that works for their child. Looking at the data will not tell whether your child will thrive or not.”

There is also the worry that new league tables are too heavily weighted on subjects the Government see as “strong” subjects such as English, maths and science to the detriment of the arts and technical subjects.

Mr Clarke said: “It’s a shame because there are some students who excel in those subjects who won’t achieve their potential due to the progress weighting given to English and maths. I definitely think it will narrow the curriculum, and that’s detrimental.”

And with the number of hours on arts subjects being reduced, unions think job cuts are inevitable.

But new entrants to the upper regions of the league table like Longhill High School and Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) are now being recognised for their determined efforts in student progress.

Fresh off an improved Ofsted rating PACA’s principal Katie Scott, speaking of her students’ progress, said: “In our Good Ofsted Report last month inspectors commented on “pupils having high aspirations and the confidence to achieve them now permeates the school’s culture”.

They also said that PACA Pupils “are well-motivated to learn and achieve as well as they can”. I think that summarises our approach.”

With Progress 8 schools in Sussex are above national average, and increases in the percentage of students getting good GCSEs, the county is on a positive trajectory to improving outcomes for children who attend state schools.

As a reminder of the work to be done, 100 per cent of pupils at top performing independent school Brighton College gained five or more good GCSEs.