GCSE Results Pledge Delivered (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

GCSE Results Pledge Delivered

January 20, 2003 12:00 AM

Government figures released today by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) confirm that Islington Liberal Democrats have delivered their pledge to lift Islington's GCSE exam results off the bottom of the London league table of results. DfES figures confirm the rise in the number of pupils achieving 5 A*-C passes by 4.2%, from 28.7% (2001) to 32.9 (2002 confirmed figure). Islington therefore has overtaken the results for Hackney (31.1% in 2002). Councillor James Kempton, Executive Member for Regeneration and Education, said: "I am delighted at this confirmation that we have achieved our pledge to lift Islington off the bottom of the London GCSE results league table. "We were always honest about the time it would take to improve Education in the Borough. The steady improvement through recent years means that this year Islington no longer has the lowest GCSE results in London. "This is a huge achievement but our ambitions run higher than what we have achieved so far. We are determined to ensure that our secondary schools become even more successful, and this is why we are intending that every secondary school in the borough becomes a specialist school. Our plans to open a tenth secondary school are also a key part of this programme for future improvement. "The other milestone we have passed is that indications are that yet again, the number of parents applying for their pupils to go to Islington Secondary schools has substantially risen. "Parents who live in Islington are increasingly confident that Islington secondary schools will provide their children with a strong secondary education. Young people in Islington deserve the best, and it's our job to make sure that what the Education service offers them is the best." "I am also very pleased to congratulate Anne Mullins, who has recently retired as Headteacher of Highbury Fields School, on the news that she is to be awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Islington. "It's a recognition both for Anne personally and for the education sector as a whole of the strong progress made, and of the high regard which the community has for those who have dedicated themselves to improving education in Islington. "As we celebrate the success of students it is important that we don't forget to celebrate the achievements of headteachers and teachers too. The award of the Freedom of the Borough to Anne is a recognition by the whole community of this hard work."