East Lancashire pupils celebrate GCSE success

7:00pm Tuesday 24th August 2010 in News Photograph of the Author By Nafeesa Shan, Reporter

CHEERS: Pupils at Westholme in Blackburn celebrate their results CHEERS: Pupils at Westholme in Blackburn celebrate their results

TEENAGERS in East Lancashire are following the national trend as GCSE pass rates shot up again this year.

More and more pupils are not only securing 5 A* to C grades overall, they are also gaining the benchmark A* to C GCSEs in English and maths too.

Pupils in Lancashire County Council schools in East Lancashire improved on last year with a five per cent increase in the number of students gaining A* to C grades including English and maths. It rose from 53 to 58 per cent.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 76 per cent of pupils gained five A* to C grades, two per cent above last year, and seven per cent more pupils gained A* to Cs including English and maths.

Early indications showed the overall pass rate in Lancashire rose by around one per cent.

The trend reflects the national picture where nearly seven in 10 were awarded at least one C grade and saw pass rates rise for the 23rd year.

*Click below for GCSE results from East Lancashire schools, except for Blakewater College, Blackburn; Beardwood Humanities College, Blackburn; Colne Park High; Marsden Heights Community College, Nelson; Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College, Blackburn; SS Fisher and Thomas More RC Humanities College, Colne; St Bede’s RC High School, Blackburn, who declined to provide the information to the Lancashire Telegraph.

Related links

* Click here for all your East Lancashire GCSE results

Comments (18)

10:35am Tue 24 Aug 10

Ian_G says...

I know that most children work hard for their GCSEs but surely record results year on year without fail is highly unlikely?

It appears that if a reduction in the pass rate were ever announced, criticism of the education system would inevitably follow and this is being avoided at all costs by the powers that be.

Why should an A* grade be required? Surely an A would suffice? Apparently not - there needs to be some way that the Universities and employers can identify the brighter students and an A grade has been so devalued by the massaging of statistics that a new grade needs to be invented!

It makes a mockery of the effort students put into their examinations.
I know that most children work hard for their GCSEs but surely record results year on year without fail is highly unlikely? It appears that if a reduction in the pass rate were ever announced, criticism of the education system would inevitably follow and this is being avoided at all costs by the powers that be. Why should an A* grade be required? Surely an A would suffice? Apparently not - there needs to be some way that the Universities and employers can identify the brighter students and an A grade has been so devalued by the massaging of statistics that a new grade needs to be invented! It makes a mockery of the effort students put into their examinations. Ian_G

11:52am Tue 24 Aug 10

TheMinister says...

Here's a concept for all the cynics to consider - teachers have just got better. The success of students studying GCSE's is down to their expert professionalism - not because the exams are easier.
Here's a concept for all the cynics to consider - teachers have just got better. The success of students studying GCSE's is down to their expert professionalism - not because the exams are easier. TheMinister

12:28pm Tue 24 Aug 10

campbell69s says...

Results are better because teachers now simply teach to pass the exams.
Well done to everyone that got what they wanted!
Results are better because teachers now simply teach to pass the exams. Well done to everyone that got what they wanted! campbell69s

12:34pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Abu Qurfan says...

TheMinister wrote:
Here's a concept for all the cynics to consider - teachers have just got better. The success of students studying GCSE's is down to their expert professionalism - not because the exams are easier.
As my Dad is always at pains to point out when watching quiz shows that the teachers who take part 9 times out of ten are half-wits. Are they the exception to the rule?

The System is neglecting to realise that the reason for exams is not to award students nice shiny certificates but to TEST them and to weed out the wheat from the chaff. With nearly everybody passing these exams and with good grades how are employers meant to differentiate between the good and bad. This means increased pressure on the students when they come to look for work hence the reason why increasing numbers want to avoid it and to go onto University.
[quote][p][bold]TheMinister[/bold] wrote: Here's a concept for all the cynics to consider - teachers have just got better. The success of students studying GCSE's is down to their expert professionalism - not because the exams are easier.[/p][/quote]As my Dad is always at pains to point out when watching quiz shows that the teachers who take part 9 times out of ten are half-wits. Are they the exception to the rule? The System is neglecting to realise that the reason for exams is not to award students nice shiny certificates but to TEST them and to weed out the wheat from the chaff. With nearly everybody passing these exams and with good grades how are employers meant to differentiate between the good and bad. This means increased pressure on the students when they come to look for work hence the reason why increasing numbers want to avoid it and to go onto University. Abu Qurfan

1:10pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Karen Patton says...

It wasn't only teenagers who were collecting their GCSE results today, there were also Adult mature students. I'm 34 and got grade C for English and grade D for maths. Im not too disappointed because I can resit the final module of maths to try and boost my grade to a C
It wasn't only teenagers who were collecting their GCSE results today, there were also Adult mature students. I'm 34 and got grade C for English and grade D for maths. Im not too disappointed because I can resit the final module of maths to try and boost my grade to a C Karen Patton

2:57pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Voxpopuli says...

I got 5 grade C's, but I got mine by sending up 3 tokens from a cornflakes packet.
I got 5 grade C's, but I got mine by sending up 3 tokens from a cornflakes packet. Voxpopuli

5:24pm Tue 24 Aug 10

burner says...

campbell69s wrote:
Results are better because teachers now simply teach to pass the exams. Well done to everyone that got what they wanted!
It's like football managers. Don't call them "teachers" call them coaches!! Certainly not educationalists.
[quote][p][bold]campbell69s[/bold] wrote: Results are better because teachers now simply teach to pass the exams. Well done to everyone that got what they wanted![/p][/quote]It's like football managers. Don't call them "teachers" call them coaches!! Certainly not educationalists. burner

5:54pm Tue 24 Aug 10

viewfromthehill says...

Any chance we could have this year's results for all schools?

Those at the bottom of the school list are from 2007/8.
Any chance we could have this year's results for all schools? Those at the bottom of the school list are from 2007/8. viewfromthehill

5:54pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Truth will out says...

Not worth the paper they are printed on. Every year it's "record results" and every year employers continue to complain about the standards of job seekers.

No wonder companies like B&Q are going after oldr staff. Anyone who believes the exam system is not a complete joke needs an exam....of their head.
Not worth the paper they are printed on. Every year it's "record results" and every year employers continue to complain about the standards of job seekers. No wonder companies like B&Q are going after oldr staff. Anyone who believes the exam system is not a complete joke needs an exam....of their head. Truth will out

6:59pm Tue 24 Aug 10

BacupBoy says...

Modern day GCSEs and A-levels are just lollipop exams
Modern day GCSEs and A-levels are just lollipop exams BacupBoy

7:55pm Tue 24 Aug 10

lmulvana says...

It never ceases to amaze me this time every year, about the slating that teachers / educators receive on results day. Little thanks for the hard work and enriching experiences that have been afforded to your children, the dedication and hard work that teachers and supports staff have shown for your children and the school, the over seas trips, holiday revision lessons, etc. Just constant criticism, we are coaching the students not educating them, the exams are too easy, they are not being taught basic skills.
I dare say if the people that were readily willing to slate and constantly criticise teachers and their tireless dedication, (often with little reward) were prepared to sit these exams and fulfil the exam board criteria, we would not be talking about raising GCSE results at all!
Think on people, the answer lies with better teaching, more comprehensive examinations and hard working students!
You’re welcome.
It never ceases to amaze me this time every year, about the slating that teachers / educators receive on results day. Little thanks for the hard work and enriching experiences that have been afforded to your children, the dedication and hard work that teachers and supports staff have shown for your children and the school, the over seas trips, holiday revision lessons, etc. Just constant criticism, we are coaching the students not educating them, the exams are too easy, they are not being taught basic skills. I dare say if the people that were readily willing to slate and constantly criticise teachers and their tireless dedication, (often with little reward) were prepared to sit these exams and fulfil the exam board criteria, we would not be talking about raising GCSE results at all! Think on people, the answer lies with better teaching, more comprehensive examinations and hard working students! You’re welcome. lmulvana

9:46pm Tue 24 Aug 10

amazed says...

One of my grandchildren came up to see me - eyes shining and happy that all her hard work has paid off. With 5 - A stars, 7 A grades and a B we think she has done very well. But what a joy to see her face!!
Another friend's daughter got good results in her "A" levels and has been accepted by Oxford University. What a change to see these young people striving to get on in the world.
What a different attitude to Voxpopuli who has to belittle them by talking about tokens on conflakes packets.
One of my grandchildren came up to see me - eyes shining and happy that all her hard work has paid off. With 5 - A stars, 7 A grades and a B we think she has done very well. But what a joy to see her face!! Another friend's daughter got good results in her "A" levels and has been accepted by Oxford University. What a change to see these young people striving to get on in the world. What a different attitude to Voxpopuli who has to belittle them by talking about tokens on conflakes packets. amazed

11:12pm Tue 24 Aug 10

burner says...

Imulvana. I KNOW a Year 2 teacher in my family who taught a SATs class and was berated by the Authority's Moderators and her Head because the end of KS1 SATs results were not as good as the previous teacher's. So the next year she COACHED for the tests for weeks. Her results were graded as "outstanding" and the pupils received higher levels. THEN in Year 3 those same pupils' levels plumeted the next year in Optional SATs because there was no fear and NO COACHING. How much more proof do you need? Teachers are forced/encouraged/co
mpelled to coach for exams at AGE 6 !!!!!!!!!! GCSE and A-Levels are no different - students are told HOW to answer and not to free-think or rationalise!! Blame League Table mentality.
Imulvana. I KNOW a Year 2 teacher in my family who taught a SATs class and was berated by the Authority's Moderators and her Head because the end of KS1 SATs results were not as good as the previous teacher's. So the next year she COACHED for the tests for weeks. Her results were graded as "outstanding" and the pupils received higher levels. THEN in Year 3 those same pupils' levels plumeted the next year in Optional SATs because there was no fear and NO COACHING. How much more proof do you need? Teachers are forced/encouraged/co mpelled to coach for exams at AGE 6 !!!!!!!!!! GCSE and A-Levels are no different - students are told HOW to answer and not to free-think or rationalise!! Blame League Table mentality. burner

7:35am Wed 25 Aug 10

Voxpopuli says...

Amazed, I belittle them because I took the old GCE exams, and thus was able to compare them to the GCSE's that my kids took. There is absolutely no comparison and it is no wonder kids leave school hardly able to string a grammatical sentence together, or do mental arithmetic in their heads.
Amazed, I belittle them because I took the old GCE exams, and thus was able to compare them to the GCSE's that my kids took. There is absolutely no comparison and it is no wonder kids leave school hardly able to string a grammatical sentence together, or do mental arithmetic in their heads. Voxpopuli

12:20pm Wed 25 Aug 10

If_it's_not_broken_don't_fix_it says...

Voxpopuli wrote:
Amazed, I belittle them because I took the old GCE exams, and thus was able to compare them to the GCSE's that my kids took. There is absolutely no comparison and it is no wonder kids leave school hardly able to string a grammatical sentence together, or do mental arithmetic in their heads.
What grades did you get?
[quote][p][bold]Voxpopuli[/bold] wrote: Amazed, I belittle them because I took the old GCE exams, and thus was able to compare them to the GCSE's that my kids took. There is absolutely no comparison and it is no wonder kids leave school hardly able to string a grammatical sentence together, or do mental arithmetic in their heads.[/p][/quote]What grades did you get? If_it's_not_broken_don't_fix_it

3:34pm Wed 25 Aug 10

niiicye says...

i realise that people are curious as to what results everybody has got but i feel that these results should not be made public domain information until they have been received by the pupils themselves. my daughter who couldnt make to school yesterday to collect her results was told her results by text from a freind i think this is very unfair, and that it is very irresponsible of the schools to disclose this information and of the telegraph to print the information without prior consent. this has got to be a breech of civil rights or at least the data protection act.
i realise that people are curious as to what results everybody has got but i feel that these results should not be made public domain information until they have been received by the pupils themselves. my daughter who couldnt make to school yesterday to collect her results was told her results by text from a freind i think this is very unfair, and that it is very irresponsible of the schools to disclose this information and of the telegraph to print the information without prior consent. this has got to be a breech of civil rights or at least the data protection act. niiicye

6:25pm Wed 25 Aug 10

amazed says...

Voxpopuli. Well I don't know about you but our grandchildren can write essays, have read newspapers since they were bout 5 years old so don't judge everybody by your own standards. We encouraged our own children and our grandchildren to take an interest in things (we failed in classical music!!) We and their parents have taken them abroad to broaden their minds so we are proud of their success. Someone above has asked what grades you got - well? Me, I got none unfortunately - too old for all this GCSC stuff - I didn't even manage to go to Grammar School but have done OK, nevertheless, by prudence!!
Voxpopuli. Well I don't know about you but our grandchildren can write essays, have read newspapers since they were bout 5 years old so don't judge everybody by your own standards. We encouraged our own children and our grandchildren to take an interest in things (we failed in classical music!!) We and their parents have taken them abroad to broaden their minds so we are proud of their success. Someone above has asked what grades you got - well? Me, I got none unfortunately - too old for all this GCSC stuff - I didn't even manage to go to Grammar School but have done OK, nevertheless, by prudence!! amazed

9:14pm Wed 25 Aug 10

Graham Hartley says...

Hey Vox, where else would kids do mental arithmetic but in their heads? Well, perhaps in their minds - but what's the difference? How would we understand a kid who claimed to do mental arithmetic in a hand?

Today was a departmental day. I arrived sane but departed mental. Innit.
Hey Vox, where else would kids do mental arithmetic but in their heads? Well, perhaps in their minds - but what's the difference? How would we understand a kid who claimed to do mental arithmetic in a hand? Today was a departmental day. I arrived sane but departed mental. Innit. Graham Hartley

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