More Wiltshire pupils than ever are achieving good GCSE and A level grades according to the latest figures released today.

The Department for Education (DfE) Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 performance tables show the number of students achieving five or more A* to C grades at GCSE including English and maths, has gone up by 1.7 per cent (from 59.3 to 61 per cent) from 2012 to 2013 showing that even more young people in Wiltshire are achieving this benchmark of success.

The DfE tables show the number of Wiltshire students achieving any five A* to C GCSEs has also gone up by 1.1 per cent (from 78.7 per cent to 79.8 per cent).

Indicators showing the progress students have made in the key subjects of English and maths in their time at secondary school are also published today. There are greater proportions of students making expected progress in both subjects. Progress figures in English have risen three percent, from 66.7 per cent of students in 2012 to 69.7 per cent in 2013. In maths almost three quarters of Wiltshire students make expected progress in maths, 74.1 percent in 2013 compared to 70.7 per cent in 2012.

Students have maintained their high levels of achievements in post 16 exam results. Nearly all students in Wiltshire taking A levels leave with at least one A*to E grade, with 95.2 per cent and 83.9 per cent leaving with two or three A* to E grades respectively, Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children services at Wiltshire Council, said: “The number of Wiltshire pupils achieving good grades at GCSE has increased this year and more students than ever are making the right progress from primary to secondary.

“These positive results are not just good news for all the schools involved but for each individual student these results prove an excellent springboard for their future education and careers and I would like to congratulate all these hard working students.”

More Wiltshire students are also gaining grades that help them compete for top university places. Increasing numbers achieve A levels with three grades at AAB or higher including 'facilitating’ subjects such as maths, English, sciences and languages. 15.7 percent of students gained AAB or higher including at least two of these subjects and 9.9 percent of students gained AAB or higher including three ‘facilitating’ subjects. 

Carolyn Godfrey, corporate director at Wiltshire Council, said: “There are some excellent results here and young people should be proud of their individual achievements. We are committed to enabling young people to achieve their very best and to support them in whatever career path they choose and we will continue to do so. We are however not complacent and continue to have a relentless focus on further improvement.”