THE Blue Coat CE School has been named the best performing state-school in Oldham.

Not only did the high school achieve outstanding GCSE results, it also scored the highest mark for the amount of progress young people make at the school.

The department for education has published school performance tables based on last summer's GCSEs results.

Find out how your child's school did here: Oldham School League Tables (2).pdf

The Oldham Times:

The tables detail a number of measures including how many pupils achieved five or more good GCSEs including English and maths, and the numbers leaving having fulfilled the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) criteria of achieving good passes in English, maths, the sciences ­history or geography and a language.

At Blue Coat CE School, the 'league tables' show that 79 per cent of young people left with five or more good GCSEs including English and maths, but say the school that figure increased to 81 per cent after final checks and adjustments.

And children made above average progress.

This measures the progress pupils at a school made between the end of primary school and the end secondary compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of Year Six.

The school was number one for the percentage of pupils leaving with EBacc at 9-4 passes. This is the Government flagship measure of how many pupils achieve good passes in English, maths, the sciences ­history or geography and a language.

At The Blue Coat School more than half fulfilled the requirement for the EBacc.

Head Teacher Rob Higgins said: "As always, we are delighted with the results of our young people . This is not just due to the hard work of students and staff in the classroom, but also to our commitment to the nurture of everyone within our organisation. We believe that every student is entitled to a broad, rich and deep curriculum, as well as opportunities for fellowship and social development. Through this we aim to bring out the best in every child.

"We are proud of the growing, diverse community within our school and we are striving to reach out through Oldham and beyond as part of the Cranmer Trust."

Overall Oldham's results were below average with 53 per cent leaving with five or more good GCSEs including English and maths, compared to the national average of 56 per cent.

The numbers meeting the EBacc criteria at 9-4 stood at 13 per cent compared to the national aveage of 23 per cent.

Pupils at the majority of the borough's school made below average progress.

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “I am naturally disappointed with the evidence in these league tables but I believe it does not show the whole picture of educational improvements across the schools and colleges in Oldham.

“A number of educational initiatives, involving the full range of our schools and academies, are in place to raise the outcomes of the children and young people of Oldham. While a number of these are beginning to bear fruit, others will take time to make a long term difference.

“We are also investing heavily in improving the buildings at our schools. Major expansion works have taken place at two of our secondary schools, Crompton House and Oldham Academy North. This has created 112 extra school places per year at Crompton House and 60 extra school places per year at Oldham Academy North.

“Also a significant rebuild of Saddleworth School is scheduled and anticipated to open during the 2021/22 academic year and two new secondary schools (Oasis Leesbrook and the Cranmer Trust Town Centre School) are anticipated to open in 2020 and 2022.

“The message is that all of us who care about the future education of our children and young people are committed to make a difference and will continue to work hard to give them the best possible start in life.”