DUDLEY borough schools are still top of the class in the Black Country - with Old Swinford Hospital students leading the field.

A total of 81 per cent of the Stourbridge school's pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and maths, - an improvement from 76 per cent in 2014.

Headteacher Paul Kilbride, describing Old Swinford Hospital's performance as "outstanding", said: “The school’s results were up five per cent on the previous year and we attribute this to the hard work and determination of students and staff.”

“The pupils are a credit to themselves, the school and their families.”

But, at some schools - including Castle High and Visual Arts College in Dudley, Crestwood School, Kingswinford, Pedmore Technology and Community School and Ridgewood High, Wollaston - there has been a marked drop in performance.

Overall 53 per cent of pupils from the borough's schools gained five or more good grade GCSE's, which is 0.8 per cent below the national average and 0.3 per cent less than in 2014 - but still enough for Dudley to claim the top spot in the Black Country.

Just behind Old Swinford Hospital, in second place for the borough, was Summerhill School, Kingswinford, with a 70 per cent success rate, and Bishop Milner Catholic College in Dudley and Windsor High, Halesowen, were right behind on 69 per cent.

Redhill School, Stourbridge, was next on 67 per cent.

The Coseley School - where there is a controversial consultation over its future - brought up the rear of mainstream schools in the borough, in 20th place with 31 per cent, which was down from 36 per cent in 2014.

But the Holly Hall Academy, which was bottom of the pile last year, has picked up its performance from 33 per cent to 43 per cent.

While 10 schools improved their exam ratings and one stayed the same, nine slipped in performance.

They included Castle High, which was down from 45 per cent to 35 per cent and Crestwood, which dropped from 50 per cent to 36 per cent.

Michelle King, head teacher at Castle High, said: "We are disappointed with the results, despite many of our pupils receiving excellent results.

"We had made an improvement over the last four years, so in comparison this is one blip.

"We are making some changes to better match up courses to students’ needs and look forward to celebrating success this year."

The Wordsley School slipped from 50 per cent to 45 per cent, Pedmore Technology College from 57 per cent to 46 per cent and Ridgewood High from 62 per cent to 51 per cent.

Over the Dudley border, in Hagley, both of the village's secondary schools scored highly and improved their performance on the previous year.

Haybridge High scored an impressive 86 per cent GCSE success rate - up from 78 per cent - and Hagley Catholic High rose from 80 to 81 per cent.