Latest figures show pupils in Wiltshire performed better than ever in 2010.

New figures released by the Government’s Department for Education yesterday, for 2010 GCSE and other level 2 qualifications and A Level results show Wiltshire schools and the College are performing in line with or exceeding the national averages.

The percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* - C grades in their GCSE exams including English and mathematics has continued to rise from 49.6 in 2007 to 55.8 in 2010, showing an increase year on year.

The percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* - C grades in any subjects has also risen to 70.9 from the 2009 figure of 68.6.

New figures published for the first time yesterday also show 56.5% of pupils in Wiltshire achieve a good GCSE in English and maths - higher than national average.

The new school measure of the English Baccalaureate was also published yesterday for the first time.  This measure shows the proportion of young people gaining good GCSEs in a range of core subjects including English, maths, humanities, a language and at least two science GCSEs.

Although schools have not had time to plan for this new measure, those in Wiltshire are already performing above the national average with 18.8% of students achieving success across the full range of GCSEs making up the ‘EBacc’ compared with 15.6% of school nationally.

The performance tables also show good improvement on previous years for learners studying Level 3, GCE/VCE/Applied A Level and Double Awards. The average point score per student has risen year on year and is above national figures. This coupled with the rise in average point score per exam entry shows that students have done well in their level 3 exams.

Carolyn Godfrey, Wiltshire Council’s director of children and education, said: “This is an exceptionally positive reflection on all the hard work of the pupils, staff and everyone involved in secondary and further education in the county.”

Alan Macrae, Wiltshire Council’s portfolio holder for schools, said: “These results are excellent and the young people should be very proud. Behind the headlines there are a fantastic range of individual achievements and I would like to offer my congratulations to all the students.”

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