PARENTS can pick and choose schools by subject for the first time thanks to new statistics released yesterday.

Previously, GCSE exam information has been limited to the number of students achieving five A* to C GCSEs, or equivalent, including English and maths.

Now parents can see how every secondary school in England performs in every GCSE subject.

In Dorset, for example, the figures reveal that at Bournemouth School, all 149 pupils that were entered achieved A* to C grades in maths and English. At St Aldhelm’s Academy, formerly Rossmore Community College, 149 pupils were entered, 48 of them managed an A* to C in maths and 57 in English.

At the Purbeck School in Wareham, there were 292 pupils in all, 167 of whom achieved A* to C in maths and 158 in English.

Poole High School entered 342 pupils, 180 of which managed A* to C in maths and 153 in English.

Every other secondary school in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset is listed in the statistics.

The figures also show how many children entered each subject and, for the first time, the number of children in a school that achieve the English Baccalaureate.

The government believes that the new information will drive schools to improve standards across the board, rather than just in certain league table measures.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “We live in an age when people expect more information, not less, in all areas of life. Our schools should be no different. For too long exam results in schools have been hidden.

“Parents have been desperate for more information on schools but too little has been available in the past.

“By publishing all this data we are giving parents the ability to choose the right school for their child.

“It will drive standards across the board and ensure that schools are accountable for their performance.”

• See the full statistics for Dorset’s schools by clicking the link below.

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