Brighton and Hove schools are reporting record GCSE results with grades up compared to last year.

The percentage of pupils achieving the benchmark five A*-C results including English and maths has risen from 52.8% in 2011 to around 56% in 2012.

The most improved is Hove Park School where they recorded 60% A*-C compared to 44% last year.

Just three years ago the percentage of students achieving A*-C was just 27%.

Elsewhere Patcham High saw an increase to 56% from 51% while Longhill High School celebrated a similar rise from 37% to 47%.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chair of the council’s children and young people committee, said: “We’re now seeing year on year rises in performance at all levels, from early years through Key Stage 2 and GCSEs to A-levels.

“Our teachers have been willing to try new strategies to secure improvements in pupil performance, and I’d like to thank them for their hard work and the flexibility they have shown. I would like to particularly congratulate staff and students at Hove Park for the exceptional progress they have shown this year.”

 

See pictures of pupils celebrating their GCSE results taken at Brighton and Hove Schools in our dedicated gallery.

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman and Varndean School are also all celebrating improvements with students achieving five A*-Cs rising to 41%, 61%, 68% and 57% from 37%, 58%, 66% and 55%.

The only two schools in the city where grades were down were Dorothy Stringer with a fall from 74% last year to 67% and Portslade Aldridge Community College who fell from 39% to 37%. The city’s public schools are also celebrating record results today.

Brighton and Hove High School recorded 64% of all grades at A and A* and 89% at A* to B grades.

Headmistress Lorna Duggleby said: “ I am so pleased with our record results this year. I know how hard the girls and the staff have worked to achieve these and I congratulate every one of them.”

It was also celebrations all round at Brighton College with over 90% of grades at A* or A.

In total there were 852 A* grades, 618 As, 138 Bs and 21 Cs.

Head Master, Richard Cairns, said: "This has been quite a year for the college: the award of England's School of the Year from The Sunday Times and now record results at GCSE, AS and A-level at a time when top grades nationally have fallen.

“I really am delighted with everyone's results - not just those with a clutch of A* grades but also those pupils who found some subjects a struggle but triumphed nevertheless - perhaps with a B grade that seemed impossible only a few months ago".

 

More reaction from today's GCSE results and pictures from schools across the city inside tomorrow's Argus.