A HEADTEACHER has heaped praise on her pupils and staff after the latest league tables showed her high school achieved some of the best results in Tendring.

Latest Government rankings rate secondary schools based on pupils’ progress rather than overall results.

Figures released this week look at the progress made by students between the end of Key Stage Two and Year 11, compared with other schools across the country.

Manningtree High School was rated ‘above average’, with 59 per cent of pupils scoring grade five or above in English and maths GCSE.

Headteacher Sally Morris said: “I am very pleased with our 2017 results, in terms of both attainment and progress.

“Our 2017 cohort have gone on to further studies equipped with grades that reflect their talent and will open doors for them in the future.

“The introduction of new GCSEs in English and maths made this a challenging year for every school and every GCSE student.

“Thankfully our staff and students rose to that challenge.

“Gaining an ‘above average’ progress 8 figure is particularly pleasing as it’s a demonstration the school is adding value, helping our students achieve more than they might have done without such good teaching and support.

“Having said that, it should be recognised that the progress 8 figure for any school can be hit badly if the year group contains a few students who are, for whatever reason, unable to complete the particular set of eight GCSE-level qualifications that are counted.”

Harwich and Dovercourt High School was rated ‘well below average’ for progress, with 27 per cent of pupils receiving a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Rob Garrett, headteacher, said the new grading system brought “additional challenges.”

“The school is very proud of how hard our students worked towards their examinations in June and July,” he said.

“The current educational changes and the removal of coursework pose additional challenges to schools such as ourselves.

“HDHS is now part of the Sigma Trust and is already benefitting from its expertise and support.

“We are confident that this, coupled with our staff and students’ continued efforts will bring the collective success we all strive for.”