8:58am Thursday 26th August 2010
By Emily Roberts
The waiting was over for GCSE students as the white envelopes were handed out on Tuesday morning.
It was a record-breaking year nationally with 61.9 per cent of pupils awarded a grade C or above, and for some Basingstoke schools, pupils achieved well above the national average.
Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School in South Ham, came out on top with 76 per cent of students reaching the benchmark five GCSEs from A* to C including maths and English.
In Hampshire, 60 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths - an increase of four per cent on last year.
Councillor Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council said: “Congratulations to Hampshire pupils for their achievement and to our schools and teachers. These results reflect the hard work of staff and pupils.
“There is a good deal of emphasis on GCSEs but pupils take a range of other courses and qualifications and all of them are to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Six of the 12 state secondary schools in The Gazette area achieved higher than the county average.
But for those pupils who failed to make the grade, Hampshire Connexions personal advisers are working with schools and colleges to offer support and guidance to young people about further education, training or employment.
More information can be found at youthtube.hants.gov.uk or by calling 0845 6035621.
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