OXFORDSHIRE’S GCSE pupils have surged ahead of national averages despite concerns that Government changes would impair exam results.

Almost 59 per cent of the county’s state-school pupils got five GCSEs marked A* to C including English and Maths, compared to a national average of 56 per cent.

Oxfordshire is now in the top quarter of local authorities for Maths progress, as 71 per cent of students made expected progress, compared to 66.5 per cent nationally.

For English it was 74 per cent reaching the target, compared with 72 per cent nationally.

Sue Croft, principal at Oxford Spires Academy in East Oxford, said: “People think of Oxford as an academic hub and it’s really good that we’re leading the way and beating the national average.

“People are collaborating across the county and are all keen to do well and help others do well.”

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This is the first year of results after the Government insisted that schools exclude resits from official results.

Simon Spiers, the executive head of the trust which runs King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage said the results were positive, but had not been helped by the new system.

He said: “There’s no doubt that progress across Oxfordshire in some places is good, despite the Government changes. Schools are working incredibly hard to counteract those changes and make sure their students do well. It makes the job harder, it doesn’t make it any better for the children.”

But Melinda Tilley, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said the new system was the reason for the boost in results.

She said: “Clearly the old system downplayed Oxfordshire’s status in relation to the rest of the country.

“This measure shows us in a much better light, demonstrating that our schools deliver better first-time results than elsewhere.

“What we must now guard against is complacency.”

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