YET again pupils have achieved excellent GCSE results in Powys in the 2011 WJEC examinations.
Almost seven 7 of 10 results (69%) are at grades A*-C and 1 in 5 (20%) are at the highest grades A*-A, maintaining the excellent performance of Powys schools. Results at grades A*-C have decreased marginally (by 0.1%) from 2010 as have results at the higher grades A*-B.
The percentage of grades A*-C in Powys is nearly 3% higher than in Wales as a whole and the overall pass rate of grades A*-G in Powys is similar to last year’s level at just over 99%, almost 1% higher than in Wales.
This year’s results at the highest grades A*-A at 20% are almost 1% more than in Wales as a whole. The percentage of results at grades A*-B at 40% is also nearly 1% higher than in Wales.
Little change is expected in the overall figures when results from other Examination Boards are added as approximately 90% of examination entries are with WJEC.
These results maintain the high standards seen in previous years’ performance and remain consistently above the all-Wales averages. The overall pass rate in Powys at a little over 99% is also slightly higher than the corresponding figure for England.
In addition, many pupils have also achieved equivalent qualifications in vocational subjects.
Cllr Stephen Hayes, Cabinet Member for Learning and Leisure, said: "Our warm congratulations go to all pupils for achieving such excellent results which demonstrate their great commitment and hard work.
"This is made possible by the support they receive from dedicated teaching staff in all our schools and also from their families."
For a full round-up of the schools see this weeks County Times.