SCHOOLS in Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer have seen some of their best GCSE results despite a change in the way that some subjects are marked.

Ludlow School had some of its best results in some subjects since the new grading scheme was introduced whilst Darren Reynolds, Head at Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer, says that the results were on a par with the best achieved by the school.

“In fact, because of the changes to grading, I would say that these are the best,” said Mr Reynolds.

He added that the girls had excelled this year.

Ludlow School head teacher, Paula Hearle, said that she is particularly pleased with how the pupils with special educational needs and those who were disadvantaged had got on.

“We are delighted with the GCSE results for the overwhelming majority of our students, especially as their results allow them to move successfully to the next stage in their education, apprenticeship or employment,” said Mrs Hearle, who added that some papers have been sent back for re-marking.

“Though we are still awaiting some final results, it is clear that in a number of subjects, these are our best results since the new system of grading was introduced,” she added.

“This is especially the case in English, Spanish, Art and Food.

“In addition, our disadvantaged students and students with special educational needs have performed exceptionally well.

At Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer, Darren Reynolds said that ‘fantastic’ results marked a reward for many years of improvement and hard work.

He said that the students in the year that has just completed their GCSE’s had been a ‘delight’ for all the five years they have been at the school.

“They have really worked hard and got some fantastic grades.”

Mr Reynolds said that the success had been achieved despite other pressures including doing well in sports. Lacon Childe, is a specialist sports college.

In English 90 percent of students had achieved a grade 4 pass or above and that was even higher in PE.

Seventy-five per cent achieved grade 4 or better in mathematics.

Mr Reynolds said that every year exams are stressful, but he is proud of students and staff.