AT St Aldhelm’s Academy in Poole principal Cheryl Heron is celebrating an 800 per cent increase in headline GCSE results.

The Herbert Avenue school was rated the worst in the country last year with a dismal three per cent making the grade with at least five A*-C grades, including English and maths.

Mixed results for Dorset schools: read our main story

This year it’s a different story with 28 per cent achieving the national benchmark figure and St Aldhelm’s receiving praise from government inspectors Ofsted.

“I am delighted by the improvements in all the results” said Ms Heron.

“Educational change and transformation does not happen overnight but these results demonstrate just how far we have come in two years and how the young people are embracing the curriculum and opportunities we offer.”

St Aldhelm’s has also seen better value-added points scores and more top grades.

Chairman of governors Ann Fernandez said: “The academy has made tremendous progress in the last 12 months. “These results, coupled with a positive Ofsted report, acknowledge the academy is doing the right things to improve but needs further time for the impact of all the developments to be embedded.”

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