A SCHOOL headteacher has praised the 'hard work' from his students and staff following the latest school performance tables figures.

Pendle Vale College's headteacher, Steve Wilson, congratulated his school after they achieved one of the highest results in the region, getting a grade of 0.39 on the 'Progress 8' score, achieving higher results than the national average.

The results are calculated on results of eight qualifications, which include English, maths, science, computer science, history, geography and languages.

A score above zero means pupils made more progress, on average, than other pupils across England. made less progress than other pupils across the country.

Top performing schools across East Lancashire included Tauheedul Islam Girl's High School, which scored 1.81, the best performing school in the country.

The corresponding boys school, the third best in the country, scored 1.55.

Other schools included Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, with 0.4, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School which scored 0.35.

The lowest scoring schools included Hameldon Community College in Burnley, which scored -0.88, Norden High School and Sports College in Rishton which scored -0.93 and Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio, which scored -1.48.

Mr Wilson, who heads the Oxford Road school in Nelson, which houses 197 pupils, said he was very happy with the progress the school has made.

He said: "We are delighted that the school performance tables published this week confirm Pendle Vale College as one of the best performing schools in Lancashire.

"Our Progress 8 score of 0.39 is the highest for a fully comprehensive school in the authority.

"These results are a reflection of the hard work by students and staff at Pendle Vale and an improvement on last years performance of 0.32 which also saw us amongst the best schools in the region."

The tables use raw exam results from 2017 and data from the governments Department for Education to evaluate pupil's progress.

Across East Lancashire, 25 schools scored below the average progress made across the country.

Last year saw the introduction of the new grading, with traditional A* to G grades being replaced by a new nine to one scale, with exams regulator Ofqual predicting just two per cent of the country will achieve a 9 which is seen as higher than the previous A*.

Xavier Bowers, head of Mount Carmel High School, which scored -0.33, said he was pleased with the 'significant improvement' the school has made in recent years.

He said: "The results table shows the big gap in schools in Hyndburn with boroughs like the Ribble Valley.

"I largely think it shows what a good job schools in Hyndburn are doing in difficult circumstances.

"As with my we are pleased with strong progress made from 2016 to 2017 and we are confident with improving in the future."

Nationally 365 schools with around 47,000 pupils which sat GCSE's last year did not make the required progress.

Hamid Patel, chief executive of Tauheedul Education Trust, said: "As exams became much tougher this year, the government figures show that we are continuing to achieve amazing results with our students, regardless of their prior ability and background.

"What’s really impressive is that some of our most vulnerable learners, those who have performed poorly at primary school and those who are in care or from low-income families – have achieved so well.

"That shows how we are really transforming lives."

The North West came fifth in the country on the top performing areas on attainment, with South West, East, South East and London ahead.

Twelve of the top 20 schools in the government’s Progress 8 measure were based in London.

Andy Burton, associate headteacher of Witton Park Academy, in Blackburn, which scored 0.45, above the national average, said: "It has been really hard because of the new GCSE English and maths grading system.

"But I am really proud of what our school has achieved at Witton, we have worked really hard as a group.

"We really have some great teachers."

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Academic standards are rising in our schools thanks to our reforms and the hard work of teachers, with 1.9million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.

"These results reinforce this success, with teachers and pupils responding well to the new more rigorous curriculum introduced by this government.

"The attainment gap between the most disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed by 10 per cent since 2011, and more disadvantaged pupils are studying the core academic subjects, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills they need to make the most of their lives.

"Many free schools and academies are also delivering excellent results for pupils

"We will continue to use this evidence to drive up standards even further for all pupils so that they leave school prepared for future success in their education and beyond, helping to build a Britain that is fit for the future."