Hackney schools top the country for GCSE progress

Provisional GCSE results published last week show Hackney is equal top of the country out of 152 local authorities for progress.

The new benchmark is based on the progress pupils make from the end of primary school until the end of secondary school.

Hackney and Kensington and Chelsea both scored 0.35 - meaning pupils in Hackney scored a third of a grade higher on average across eight GCSEs than pupils with similar previous results.

Under the previous system, schools were judged on the proportion of students who gained at least five A*- C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, rather than the amount of progress youngsters make in the two key subjects.

City Academy Hackney in Homerton Row was ranked top in Hackney for progress, and third best in London.

The proportion of pupils in Hackney gaining grade C or better in English and maths GCSEs was 69 per cent (up 7pc), placing Hackney 19th in the country.

Anne Canning, Hackney’s Group Director for Children, Adults and Community Health, said: “I am really proud of all our students in Hackney, and the hard work both they and staff have put in is truly evident in these results.

“Following these results many pupils have been given the platform to go on to A-levels, apprenticeships or paid employment.”