THE borough’s education boss has praised Dudley’s youngsters and schools following publication of the latest national performance tables for GCSEs.

Dudley Council says more pupils than ever before achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths.

The results show the total number of children across the borough gaining the top grades was 59.7 per cent this year compared to 56.1 per cent last year and the results, published today (Thursday January 23) have been hailed the “best ever”.

Councillor Crumpton, Dudley’s cabinet member for children, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “These are impressive results, which clearly demonstrate how hard our young people and schools are working. It is a tribute to the professionalism of our teachers and we are working hard with them to get all of our schools to the same standard. I want to put on record my thanks to all concerned.”

In the Stourbridge area - Summerhill School was top of the class with 78 per cent of pupils gaining good GCSEs while Thorns Community College in Quarry Bank saw just 49 per cent of its students gain A* to C grades, including English and Maths.

At Kingswinford Academy the pass rate for good grades, including English and maths, was 72 per cent, with Oldswinford Hospital School in Stourbridge not far behind with 71 per cent and at Redhill School in Stourbridge the pass rate was 69 per cent.

At The Crestwood School in Kingswinford it was 68; Pedmore Technology College in Lye and Ridgewood High School in Wollaston both achieved a 60 per cent pass rate, and The Wordsley School saw 52 per cent of pupils gain five good GCSEs.