THE latest figures show considerable variation in the schools across our area.

In some, all students achieved five good GCSEs including English and maths - a measure broadly employed as the gold standard - but in others just 15 per cent of the pupils attained this.

Nineteen per cent of pupils in Rossmore Community College in Poole managed this - and yet it appeared fifth on the list of state schools in the country with the worst record for truancy Head teacher Sally Apps said: "Every time the league tables come out we have to take a battering. For schools working in challenging circumstances it is not helpful and can put people off.

"We are well aware we need to improve achievement and attendance and that's what we are doing.

"We do some amazing things with our young people but we are never going to be top because of the selective system in the borough.

"We have to focus on our successes and while we have plans to improve, this can't be done overnight."

Other schools that appeared to have low results pointed to the measure of how the school has contributed to pupils' achievement.

Chris Brady, head teacher of Portchester School in Bournemouth, said: "We are particularly pleased with the contextual value added' score because this shows the real progress that our students have made and we have met our local authority targets."

He said the percentage of boys getting the gold standard, 27 per cent, had improved on the previous year. He added: "We had staffing issues in maths but these are being sorted and we are beginning to move forward."

At the other end of the spectrum, the head teacher of Parkstone Grammar, a school in which all pupils achieved the gold standard, also implored parents to look at the "value added" figures.

Anne Shinwell said: "We are a selective school and we always aim to get all our students five good GCSEs.

"What is important is the value added' score showing what the school has added to the young person - although there are problems with this measure because for very bright pupils there is a ceiling."

Fee-paying Canford School had the highest A* pass rate in the school's history.

Head teacher John Lever said: "A school average of above A grade was a highlight of an excellent year and I was delighted by how few grades were below B."

Head teacher of Winton Arts and Media College Ingrid Masters was also celebrating after the school's first year with specialist status saw it appear in the list of the 200 most improved state secondary schools in England.

She said: "We are really proud. All of our students achieved at least one pass at GCSE.

"I congratulate the students, teachers and parents.

"This year we have also set very challenging targets which we will work towards together."

Head teacher of the Grange Mark Stenton said: "The school is working exceptionally hard to make tremendous progress and there is lots we are pleased about. We are ambitious for the school and we will rise year on year in the league tables."

He said the results were the second best the school had ever had.

The Grange shows the worst record for unauthorised absence among Dorset schools but Mr Stenton said the school had improved since September.

All head teachers stress that there is more to their schools than these numbers.

Head teacher of Bournemouth School John Granger said: "The government sets a great store by these league tables but really they are only numbers.

"What motivates me is being able to look a parent in the eye and say we did about as well for your child as we could."

  • For full table of results, see Thursday's (Jan 10) Daily Echo.