THE County High School in Leftwich has been revealed as the best performing high school in Mid Cheshire.

This comes after the government released its provisional statistics showing how well schools are performing based on pupil’s GCSE results.

The data produced by the Department for Education give parents an indication of how the area’s schools are performing as they look to select a high school for their children.

Schools are ranked by the government’s provisional progress 8 scores, which measure the progress pupils made between their year 6 SATs and their GCSEs in year 11.

The County High School came top of the table with a progress 8 score of 0.79, which is well above the national average of 0.33 and also topped the rankings in terms of pupils staying in education or employment and pupils attaining grade 5 or above in English and maths.

Headteacher Matthew Snelson said: “The progress our 2019 leavers made since joining us as Year 7 students to leaving us as mature, well rounded and talented Year 11 students has been phenomenal.

“Students' academic progress evidences that they achieved over three quarters of a grade higher than students nationally with similar starting points."

St Nicholas and Weaverham high schools were ranked second and third respectively, with both recording similar scores to the national average.

Hartford CofE High School and Rudheath Senior Academy recorded progress 8 scores which are deemed to be below the national average.

Winsford Academy and Middlewich High School also recorded progress 8 scores below the national average.

At Winsford Academy, 23.5 per cent of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSE compared with the national average of 43 per cent. Some 88 per cent of school leavers stayed in education or employment.

GCSE results at Middlewich High showed 40 per cent gaining grade 5 or above in their exams and 96 per cent of school leavers continuing with studies or getting a job.

Mark Palethorpe, Cheshire East Council acting executive director of people, said: “Our collective performance has seen further improvements, compared with the previous year, in many of the key national indicators, which see Cheshire East secondary schools perform strongly against all other local authorities and especially against our statistical neighbours.

“Our attainment and progress scores place Cheshire East second and third respectively, compared with our group of 11 statistical neighbour authorities. For learners achieving grades nine to five in both English and maths, Cheshire East is ranked first.

Northwich Guardian:

Mike Palethorpe, Cheshire East Council acting executive director of people

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of all of our schools in providing our learners with the best opportunities to progress in their academic studies or enter employment or training.

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“We wish to thank everyone involved in our schools, including parents and pupils, for their outstanding commitment, which collectively has contributed to another year of excellent outcomes.”

Northwich Guardian: