GOVERNMENT league tables have revealed how schools across Dorset and Hampshire compare for GCSE results.

Figures have been released judging schools on the percentage of students achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and maths.

While some schools have shown dramatic improvement, others have seen their figures fall by a considerable margin.

Many have blamed last-minute changes to grade boundaries which saw many students achieve lower than expected grades in their GCSE English exams.

Among the high-fliers were Winton Arts and Media College, which recorded one of the highest figures in the area, and Poole’s Carter Community and St Aldhelm’s Academy, where dramatic improvements have been revealed.

Top performing school in Bournemouth was Bournemouth School for Girls and head Alistair Brien said: “I am delighted that once again the results achieved by our pupils at both GCSE and A level have been recognised in the latest government tables, crowning a year when we also achieved ‘outstanding’ status under the new much tougher OFSTED regime. Schools, however, are of course far more than just about exam results.”

Bournemouth School for Girls was among the top 200 state schools in the country along with Parkstone Grammar, Poole Grammar and Bournemouth School with independent schools including Sherborne School, Canford School and Talbot Heath also up there.

In the bottom 200 schools, although with much improved scores compared to last year, was St Aldhelm’s Academy and The Bourne Academy.

Cllr Nicola Greene, Bournemouth council’s cabinet member for education, said: “Pupils in Bournemouth have had another successful year of achievement, with the percentage of students gaining the all-important five A*-C grades, including English and maths rising to 60.7 per cent.

“These latest results are the highest for the borough to date. We are really pleased that results in Bournemouth continue to improve each year.”

Cllr Janet Walton, cabinet member for children and young people at the Borough of Poole, said: “I am pleased that this year’s Key Stage 4 results in our Poole secondary schools have again improved on the previous year and compare favourably with national figures.

“Two schools in particular, Carter Community School and St Aldhelm’s Academy, have made significant increases in the number of young people gaining five-plus A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics.”

To see league tables for your area, click here and choose your town. Then click Schools and follow the links.