HOLSWORTHY Community College has reported its best ever GCSE results despite more demanding exams.

Students, staff, governors and parents said they are proud of the achievements of this year’s candidates with the college’s highest ever results of 64% 5+A*-C including English and maths. Traditionally this figure rises after appeals.

The college said this surpasses its achievement in 2013 when the national pass rate was 60%. Since then the national pass rate has dropped by 5% to 55% in 2014, adding these results are the outcome of five years of hard work from all concerned.

Eighty per cent of pupils achieved A*-C in science against a national pass rate of 57%; 72% of the cohort achieved two or more higher level passes in science.

In maths 73% of pupils achieved A*-C (over the national pass rate of 69%) with 66% making three levels of progress from KS2 to KS4. English A*-C figure for maths was 64.1%

GCSE English language fared well with 75% of pupils making expected progress of three levels and 70% A*-C against a national pass rate of 65.3%. The college said this was in the new more demanding GCSE exam, without a speaking and listening component.

This positive achievement was also reflected in what the college described as the more demanding history course where 74% of students achieved A*-C. Ninety-five per cent of those entered also achieved A*-C in English literature.

Food technology performed strongly with 76% A*-C, French 74% and German 91%, and sports studies continued its strong performance over recent years with 76% A*-C also.

The college said the 100% 5+A*-G figure was especially pleasing, given the comprehensive intake.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.