A BROMSGROVE comprehensive school has made the grade in the secondary school league tables.

North Bromsgrove High School has exceeded national targets with 53 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades at GCSE.

All Bromsgrove secondary schools achieved the government targets, which say 50 per cent of pupils should gain at least five GSCE passes of grade C and above.

Head teacher at the School Drive school Kevin Peck said: "For the second year running we have had our best ever GCSE performance and are delighted with the effort of all concerned."

South Bromsgrove School also faired well in the league tables published last week although they failed to exceed last year's performance.

The Charford Road school saw 56 per cent of students making the grade, 7 per cent less than last year.

Bromsgrove School also exceeded national targets with 72 per cent of pupils passing five or more GCSE examinations at grades A* to C.

Despite an impressive performance the independent school failed to improve on the 82 per cent achieved last year.

Headmaster Tim Taylor said: "The government figures on GCSEs are very misleading for a school like Bromsgrove.

"Many of our pupils are international students, who do not always sit their GCSE examinations at age 16, yet they are still included in the figures.

"Most of our international students sit GCSE exams a year or two later and go on to achieve top grades, but this is not shown in these league tables."

Satisfying

The Worcester Road school did well in its A' Level exams, with 77 per cent of students achieving A and B grades.

Waseley Hills High School in Rubery also reached the national target of 50 per cent.

Tory county councillor for Bromsgrove, South June Longmuir said: "It's a significant and satisfying improvement in our results, and what's most satisfying is that is constant.

"The strategy of the council is to see that there is a constant increase in standards and quality of education in Worcestershire."