Record GCSE results in Rochdale

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 21/08/2008

Year 11 students have achieved the best GCSE results ever recorded in Rochdale. This year, 58% of students gained five or more higher-grade GCSEs. This is up from 56% last year and 50% in 2006.

Meanwhile 43% gained five or more good GCSEs, including English and Maths, up 1% on last year's figure and 6% on 2006.

Commenting on the town's results Councillor Irene Davidson, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families said: "Congratulations are due to all these young people, more than 1,500 in 2008, who achieved such good results. I would like to thank the teachers, parents and other family members who have supported this success. It is particularly pleasing that results have improved in each of the four townships."

Terry Piggott Executive Director for education at Rochdale Council said: "Results day is always a bit scary. Given the big gains in previous years I am delighted that we have improved again. Today the learners, their teachers and schools have come up trumps! These results mean our targets, agreed with government, have been met. More importantly, many more youngsters can now go onto further education or training, setting themselves up for prosperous careers."

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “This is fantastic news for our young people and is a credit to them, their parents and our staff in our schools. The 6% rise in five or more GCSEs, including Maths and English, in just two years just goes to show the upwards direction that our young people are moving in. These results show that we are making significant progress at all levels and our successful showing in our A-Levels results last week was also a welcome tonic.

“I know that our Local Education Authority, led so well by Terry Piggott and his team will be absolutely delighted. Plaudits should quite rightly go to them as well. This is an exciting time for our young people, with a raft of new schools on the way and of course our new sixth form college being imminent. I hope our young people celebrating these record
results will look at the A-Level results last week and choose to continue their education here in Rochdale. As a former teacher, I know that this is not just a nervy time for our pupils and parents but also for our teaching staff. I hope that they enjoy all the congratulations that will inevitably come their way this week.”