MANY schools across the East Riding are reporting improved GCSE results today.
Beverley Grammar School, which had a turbulent year with head Grahame Hodson resigning, is celebrating the best GCSE results in its history, with a record 74 per cent of pupils achieving the gold standard.
Gillian Todd, head at the boys' secondary, said: "I am delighted we have got our best-ever results, it's quite overwhelming."
Results are also on the up at Wolfreton School but head Dave McCready said changes made by exam boards have had a negative impact.
Of the five GCSEs in the gold standard, which includes English and maths, only two subjects can now be vocational.
Officials have also stopped the practice of schools entering pupils early for exams and recording the best score.
Mr McCready said: "Our GCSE results in terms of the gold standard show a slight improvement on last year to 65 per cent but, as a school, we feel that the changes made by the exam boards have had a negative impact on our results overall.
"The uncertainty felt in the system is not helpful and it is a shame because this can move the focus away from the students who have worked extremely hard throughout the past two years in preparation for these exams.
"As a school, however, we can once again celebrate some wonderful results from students of all abilities who are now well prepared and qualified for the next stage in their education.''
Beverley High School is expecting 70 per cent of pupils at the girls' secondary to attain the gold standard today.
Hessle High School is celebrating record-breaking GCSE results at the academy, with 63 per cent achieving the benchmark.
Executive head Sarah Young said: "Given the new gold standard measurement of five GCSE grades A*- C, including maths, English and at least one other GCSE grade, was introduced half way through the year, we are delighted with this year's results."
The Market Weighton School is celebrating record-breaking results, after 66 per cent achieved the gold standard.
Head Gavin Chappell said the results are the best in the history of the school, which came out of special measures just two years ago. He said: "Given the new methodology in the way the performance tables are calculated, this is a significant achievement.
"We are delighted with this set of results. They are much higher than the school has ever achieved before and have been attained against a background of increased standards and tighter exam regulations."
At Cottingham High School, 57 per cent attained the gold standard.
Head Scott Ratheram said: "I am delighted so many students have performed so well this summer.
"Five hundred of the grades awarded were A or A* this year, a record for the academy.
"On a number of measures these results are an improvement upon last year and we are confident that our upward trend will continue."
Howden School achieved the school's best GCSE exam results today, with 64 per cent achieving the benchmark.
Head Garry Garghan said: "We are really pleased with these results. At a time when the education media is already commenting on the degree of turbulence in exam grades nationally this year, our students have once again done themselves proud and moved our school forward."
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