Last updated 19:25, Thursday, 20 November 2008

THREE local schools have been commended for making outstanding progress in GCSE results.

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Ideas: Beacon Hill head Julie Richardson: “Sharing ideas with other schools has been an important factor in our improvement in results.”

P5 lead - reworked by Sarahfile pix of Chris McGrath/Julie Richardsonsee St Mary’s School piece to support this lead. SJ

Stainburn School in Workington, Solway Community Technology College in Silloth and Beacon Hill School in Aspatria were given awards at a Specialist Schools and Academic Trust (SSAT) event in London.

The schools, with Settlebeck High School in Sedbergh, joined the SSAT’s Raising Achievement in Teaching and Learning programme, which promotes school partnerships, as part of the Rural Academy of Cumbria.

As a result, all four have been praised for their progress over the last academic year.

Solway Community Technology College was named most-improved school, out of 200 on the programme, for pupils achieving five or more grades at A*-C, including English and maths.

It also took second place for the percentage increase in the number of pupils achieving five or more grades A*-C in 2008.

Headteacher Susie Shepherd highlighted the work of pupils, teachers and parents.

She said: “It was a real team effort. We are proud of the success of our students.”

Beacon Hill Community School in Aspatria was recognised because the number of its pupils gaining five or more A*-C grades at GCSE improved by between 15 and 20 percentage points over the last academic year.

Headteacher Julie Richardson said: “We are proud of our achievements and the fact that the RATL programme has recognised our progress and improvements.

“Sharing ideas with other schools has been an important factor in our improvement in results.”

Stainburn School and Science College was highlighted for its work with the Western Heads Consortium, where headteachers from West Cumbria’s secondary schools work alongside the RATL programme for mutual benefit.

Chris McGrath, Stainburn head, and chairman of the Western Heads Consortium, said: “By working together we have the opportunity to share best practice, which has immediate and long-term benefits in raising achievements and attainment of all our pupils.”

Settlebeck High School received four awards after improving its results and increasing pupils’ progress.

Peter McGaw, Cumbria’s principal school improvement officer, said: “I would like to offer our congratulations to all schools who have deservedly been recognised for their outstanding progress on their GCSE results.

“In Cumbria we encourage schools to share good practice and we are delighted that the programme has benefited each of these small rural secondary schools.”