Northampton has four of the top 10 performing schools in the county for GCSE attainment in 2012, new Government league tables released today have revealed.
Northampton High School ranked second in Northamptonshire, with 92 per cent of its 79 entrants achieving five or more GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths.
Pitsford School was ranked fifth, with 86 per cent of the 21 pupils achieving five A* to C grades, while ninth-placed Quinton House School saw 76 per cent of its 42 entrants achieve this.
Northampton School for Boys was 10th with 72 per cent at A* to C, but the number of pupils sitting the exams – 214 – is the second highest number in the top 10.
Just outside the top ten were Northampton School for Girls and Guilsborough School - in 11th and 12th respectively.
Oundle School was the top-ranked, with a 99 per cent pass rate at A* to C.
Out of the 46 schools ranked, some of the lowest performing schools were in Northampton. Thomas Becket Catholic School was 43rd, with St Peter’s Independent School 44th and St Andrew’s College in 46th.
However, little can be read into the latter two, as only 12 pupils in each school took the exams.
A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said: “The league tables serve a useful purpose for monitoring progress but parents and students should remember that these tables, in isolation, cannot possibly give the full picture of the work of individual schools.
“We always suggest that prospective students and parents should always visit, meet the staff and get a feel for a school in order to make an informed choice about what is best for them.”
The results come as campaigners called on Prime Minister David Cameron to rethink the pace of GCSE reforms.
A letter signed by nearly 100 groups is being handed in to 10 Downing Street, asking for a meeting with Mr Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to discuss the proposals.
Education Secretary Michael Gove announced plans last year to scrap GCSEs and replace them with new English Baccalaureate Certificates, starting in 2015.
TOP TEN PERFORMING SCHOOLS
Left to right, after the name of the school, the columns show the number of pupils eligible for GCSE and equivalent qualifications; the proportion of candidates getting five A* to C-grades including English and maths, and where this ranks them within the local authority.
Oundle School, Peterborough: 194 99% 1
Northampton High School: 79 92% 2
Wellingborough School: 81 90% 3
Brooke Weston Academy, Corby: 183 87% 4
Pitsford School, Northampton: 21 86% 5
Bishop Stopford School, Kettering: 212 78% 6
Sponne School, Towcester: 184 78% 7
Magdalen College School, Brackley: 236 76% 8
Quinton House School, Northampton: 42 76% 9
Northampton School for Boys: 214 72% 10
FULL LIST
Abbeyfield School, Northampton: 197 41% 37
Bishop Stopford School, Kettering: 212 78% 6
Bosworth Independent College, Northampton: 10 40% 38
Brooke Weston Academy, Corby: 183 87% 4
Campion School, Northampton: 232 70% 13
Caroline Chisholm School, Northampton: 225 59% 23
Chenderit School, Banbury: 175 70% 14
Corby Business Academy:130 38% 40
Danetre School, Daventry: 190 53% 28
The Duston School, Northampton: 193 50% 32
Elizabeth Woodville School, Milton Keynes: 316 68% 15
The Ferrers Specialist Arts College, Rushden: 184 54% 27
Guilsborough School, Northampton: 201 71% 12
Huxlow Science College, Wellingborough: 145 59% 21
Buccleuch Academy, Kettering: 149 51% 30
Kettering Science Academy: 189 33% 42
Kingsthorpe College, Northampton: 222 41% 36
The Kingswood School, Corby: 198 38% 41
The Latimer Arts College, Kettering: 192 66% 16
Lodge Park Technology College, Corby: 193 43% 34
Magdalen College School, Brackley: 236 76% 8
Malcolm Arnold Academy, Northampton: 230 51% 31
Manor School and Sports College, Wellingborough: 137 51% 29
Montsaye Academy, Kettering: 184 56% 25
Moulton School and Science College, Northampton: 211 66% 17
Northampton Academy: 229 55% 26
Northampton High School: 79 92% 2
Northampton School for Boys: 214 72% 10
Northampton School for Girls: 272 71% 11
Oundle School, Peterborough: 194 99% 1
Pitsford School, Northampton: 21 86% 5
Prince William School, Oundle: 274 64% 19
Quinton House School, Northampton: 42 76% 9
The Rushden Community College: 141 6% 45
St Andrew’s College, Northampton: 12 0% 46
St Peter’s Independent School, Northampton: 12 17% 44
Sir Christopher Hatton School, Wellingborough: 202 60% 20
Southfield School for Girls, Kettering: 165 59% 22
Sponne School, Towcester: 184 78% 7
Thomas Becket Catholic School, Northampton: 176 31% 43
Weavers School, Wellingborough: 118 42% 35
Wellingborough School: 81 90% 3
Weston Favell School, Northampton: 188 39% 39
William Parker School, Daventry: 160 46% 33
Wollaston School, Wellingborough: 238 65% 18
Wrenn School, Wellingborough: 240 58% 24
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