STUDENTS and teachers in Cornwall's schools are celebrating the thirteenth consecutive year of improvement in GCSE exam results, as measured in Government league tables published nationally.
In South East Cornwall impressive results were attained by a number of schools, in particular Callington and Fowey.
A total of 53.3% of pupils in Cornwall taking GCSE or GNVQ exams achieved five or more passes at grade A* to C. This compares with 52.6% last year, and with this year's national figure of 50%.
Callington community college achieved a high showing in the GCSE tables, with 60% of its pupils gaining five or more GCSEs between the grades of A* and C, leaving it with a tenth position ranking among local education schools in Cornwall. It was only topped locally by Fowey community college which obtained a 62% pass rate for pupils with five or more 'good' GCSEs, and was placed ninth.
Torpoint community school achieved an equivalent 58% pass rate and Looe community school 57%. Other results for South East Cornwall were as follows: Launceston college 54%; Saltash community school 44% and Liskeard school and community college 44%.
Callington college students also achieved an impressive overall result in their A levels, gaining an average 19.7 marks each. This is the average points score of those entered for at least one A-level or their vocational equivalent. An A grade equals ten points, and a B grade eight - down to two points for an E grade.
Saltash school gained average A level points of 16.7; Torpoint school 14; and Liskeard school 13.5.
For thirteen years Cornwall's results have been well ahead of the national average. In 1998 the percentage with five or more A* to C was 51.1% against a national 46.3%, and in 1999 this was 51.6% compared with 47.9%. Last year the figures were 52.6% compared to 49.2%.
The results were welcomed by the Executive Member for Lifelong Learning, Doris Ansari, who said: 'it is satisfying to see that the hard work of students and teachers has been rewarded with continuing improvement to exam results.'
Mrs Ansari added that exam results were just one aspect of school life and that Cornwall's schools also had many other areas of excellence to celebrate. She said 'Exam results should never be studied in isolation. The quality of pupil teacher relationships, pupils' personal and social development, achievement in sports, performing arts and community projects are all part of the broader picture of any school which parents should consider. Individual exam results will always vary from year to year. Nevertheless I am delighted to see that, once again, our schools' academic success has an upward trend. All young people deserve the best possible start in life, and it is thanks to the hard work of many people in our schools across the county that the young people, I believe, are getting that start.'