GCSE results outstrip the rest of the country

Lewisham students are celebrating their GCSEs results after the borough saw improvements more than three times greater than the country as whole.

Overall the borough has seen a 4.5% jump it its results smashing the national increase.

Over the last three years Lewisham’s pass rate has leapt by 15%. That equates to more than 300 additional pupils leaving school each year with top class results.

And with an average pass rate of 54% for 5+ A*-C grades the borough has also broken through its target of 51.5%, set with the Department for Education and Skills.

Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, today attended Addey and Stanhope school where he spoke with students and staff, congratulating them on their successes.

He said: 'These results, coming on the back of such excellent A levels last week, shows that Lewisham’s schools are going from strength to strength.

'We’re improving at a staggering rate and I’m delighted that today young people in Lewisham can feel proud of their schools and proud of what they have achieved.'

In Downham, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knight Academy completed its first full year as an academy with by improving its results from 9.4% to 29%.

And at Addeys and Stanhope in New Cross pupils and teachers celebrated an 11% jump to 60% 5+ A*-C.

Headteacher Ann Potter said: 'We’re delighted with these results and it what we were hoping for.

'To have done so well demonstrates the extraordinary support we’ve had from staff and parents, plus of course the excellent hard work of our pupils. I’m very proud.'

Councillor Robert Massey, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: 'Our schools have shown a genuine, sustained and significant improvement in results not just this year, but over a long period of time.

'Standards at every level of our schools are improving and students are being given better futures as a results.

'Congratulations to all the students collecting results today and to everyone who helped them achieve such excellent results, including schools, teachers and parents.'

All figures provisional (* to be confirmed)