SEFTON education chiefs were today toasting another impressive showing this year.
Figures showed a record 51.4% managed five good GCSEs, including maths and English up around 5% since last year and better than the 47.6% national average.
The number of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades overall also showed a sharp rise, with 71.2% of pupils hitting the standard, compared with 64.1% in 2007.
That was again above the national average of 65.3%.
Cllr Peter Dowd, Seftons cabinet member for education, said: "It is always very encouraging to see our figures travelling in the right direction once again."
Successful schools included Litherland high, which sends students to Spain for stress-busting sessions with life coaches.
It appeared to pay off, with 48% of students achieving at least a grade C in Spanish, almost double the 27% national average.
But David Cook, head teacher at leading independent Merchant Taylors school in Crosby, hit out at the tables, which he said were being distorted by the government.
The tables stated not one of his students achieved five good GCSEs including maths and English because they do not acknowledge the fact students take the Maths iGCSE, a more rigorous and difficult version of GCSE maths.
Mr Cook, whose school celebrated record results, with 70% of all GCSE grades A* or A, said: "The refusal to recognise the iGCSE renders the league tables utterly meaningless."
Key: a = % of school's pupils who achieved % GCSEs at A* to C including Maths and English in 2007; b = % of school's pupils who achieved % GCSEs at A* to C including Maths and English in 2008, c = % of school's pupils who achieved % GCSEs at A* to C in any subjects 2007; d = % of school's pupils who achieved % GCSEs at A* to C in any subject in 2008
| School | Address | A... | B... | C... | D... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkdale High School | Southport | 63 | 59 | 69 | 74 |
| Bootle High School | Bootle | 28 | 28 | 36 | 32 |
| Chesterfield High School | Liverpool | 45 | 45 | 64 | 79 |
| Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre | Southport | 46 | 57 | 76 | 89 |
| Deyes High School | Liverpool | 61 | 62 | 71 | 71 |
| Formby High School | Liverpool | 75 | 80 | 83 | 87 |
| Greenbank High School | Southport | 57 | 68 | 77 | 75 |
| Hillside High School | Bootle | 41 | 47 | 76 | 79 |
| Holy Family Catholic High School | Liverpool | 53 | 56 | 68 | 80 |
| Litherland High School | Liverpool | 27 | 23 | 60 | 48 |
| Maghull High School | Liverpool | 50 | 43 | 64 | 64 |
| Maricourt Catholic High School | Liverpool | 54 | 51 | 65 | 76 |
| Meols Cop High School | Southport | 37 | 43 | 59 | 61 |
| Merchant Taylors' Boys' School | Liverpool | 22 | 0 | 94 | 96 |
| Merchant Taylors' School for Girls | Liverpool | 97 | 97 | 98 | 99 |
| Range High School | Liverpool | 72 | 81 | 79 | 85 |
| Sacred Heart Catholic College | Liverpool | 57 | 80 | 73 | 88 |
| St Ambrose Barlow Catholic College | Bootle | 35 | 40 | 70 | 90 |
| St George of England Specialist Engineering College | Bootle | 18 | 29 | 34 | 59 |
| St Mary's College | Liverpool | 88 | 91 | 99 | 97 |
| St Michael's Church of England High School | Crosby | 23 | 43 | 39 | 62 |
| St Wilfrid's Catholic High School | Liverpool | 19 | 31 | 38 | 56 |
| Savio Salesian College | Bootle | 36 | 21 | 59 | 63 |
| Stanley High School Sports College | Southport | 45 | 44 | 73 | 56 |
| Streatham House School | Liverpool | 81 | 76 | 94 | 94 |