Merseyside head teachers are upbeat after record results. Education Reporter Ben Turner reports

MERSEYSIDE headteachers and education leaders rounded on annual A-level critics yesterday and demanded they “take off their rose-tinted glasses”.

Headteachers moved to silence the critics as schools and colleges across Merseyside enjoyed another set of record results.

The achievements mirrored the national picture, with results going up for the 27th consecutive year and the UK pass rate increasing by 0.3% to 97.5%.

With more than three-quarters of entries awarded at least a C grade, the quality of the exams has again been called into question.

Critics include Conservative shadow children’s secretary Michael Gove, who has condemned schools for promoting less rigorous subjects and said evidence showed academic standards “are not what they should be.”

But last night defiant school and council leaders said annual A-level criticism was unfair on the students themselves.

They include Cllr Keith Turner, executive member for education in Liverpool, which has nudged closer to the national average with its pass rate shooting up from 94.7 to 95.9%.

He said: “The pressure on our young people to succeed has never been greater and we should be celebrating their achievements, not undermining them.

“I am heartily sick of the annual debate suggesting the exams are getting easier. While the type of questions and range of topics may have changed over the years, the amount of blood, sweat and tears needed to get good grades is still the same as it ever was.”

His views were echoed by Debbie Silcock, head at Liverpool’s only grammar school, the Blue Coat, which enjoyed a 100% pass rate.

She said: “Students work very hard and they can only do what is put in front of them. The criticism should not detract from their success.”

John Waszek, Principal at St Edward’s College, in West Derby, which also enjoyed a 100% pass rate, also poured scorn on claims A-Levels were now easier.

“Sixth-form pupils have to work increasingly hard to obtain their high-quality grades, much harder than their predecessors – especially as a result of the introduction of the AS grade, which has made lower sixth a year when relaxation is not possible. I wonder whether those who criticise would themselves be able to cope with the academic demands placed on our pupils?”

And Dave Forshaw, head at Cardinal Heenan, in West Derby, branded critics as “pathetic.”

“Schools like ours are true comprehensives with a range of abilities and need a curriculum to suit them and get them on the pathway to employment. This does not necessarily mean taking A-Level maths and physics.”