SOUTHAMPTON schools have reacted to the recently released government data showing that under two thirds of secondary school pupils failed to achieve the benchmark grade.

The data released on Thursday showed that on average, 34.75 per cent of students across 12 Southampton secondary schools achieved the government benchmark grade of a 5 – which is a similar level of achievement to a high grade C or low grade B in the old grading system.

The worst-performing schools for achieving the grade were Woodlands Community College (13 per cent), Chamberlayne College for the Arts (14 per cent), and Oasis Academy Mayfield (17 per cent).

Jim Henderson has been head teacher at Woodlands Community College for two school terms and explained that the school’s priority is to ensure the best possible results for students in the future.

He added: “I want the best curriculum for our students and the best teaching and learning, so that they leave us in the future having achieved the best outcomes.

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“In my first six months, the significant and rapid changes that I have put in place have been recognised not only by the local authority but also by Ofsted.

“I look forward to a far brighter future for Woodlands and those students who study here.”

A spokesperson from Oasis Community Learning commented: “Every secondary school has experienced some adjustment over the past couple of years as we amend our teaching to meet the more rigorous demands of GCSE examinations.

“While Oasis Academy Mayfield’s progress and attainment scores last summer fell below their own high standards and expectations, we are confident that the academy has the resources, teachers, and additional support in place to improve results rapidly this year.”

However, there were several schools in the area that saw 50 per cent or more of their pupils reach grade 5 or above.

These were St Mary’s Independent School with 64 per cent, Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College with 61 per cent, and Upper Shirley High School with 53 per cent.

Executive headteacher at St Mary’s Independent School, Claire Charlemaigne, said: “We are delighted that the students have done so well.

“We put our results down to our small class sizes and we really nurture the students here.

“They do so well because they are happy.”

Councillor Darren Paffey, Southampton’s school chief, said: “There were schools that failed to meet this standard and the council is providing support to these schools to ensure that the recent improvements in exam results are sustained.”