Medway's exam results are
above the national average

The number of Medway pupils achieving five or more GSCE
grades A*-C has risen by more than 5%.

According to data published by the Department for Education
today, 61.2% of teens achieved this benchmark compared to the
national average of 59.4%.

The best performing schools were Chatham Grammar School for Boys
and Rochester Grammar School - where 100% of pupils achieved
five of more A*-C grades, including maths and English.

Stuart Gardner, principal of Rochester Grammar, said: "We are
delighted to see that our students have performed exceptionally
well in the recent league tables.

"This is the product of their hard work and dedication to their
studies as well as the support, guidance and care they have
received from their teachers.

"For students in a grammar school context to have made as much
progress as is indicated is exceptional and is a testament to the
ethos of the school in encouraging every student to achieve their
personal best.

"These results have allowed our students to access the next step
on their educational pathway and be one more step towards their
dream career."

Two schools failed to meet the government's target of 40% of
children passing the benchmark of at least five A* to C grades;
Robert Napier in Gillingham and Strood Academy.

Strood Academy narrowly missed the mark, with 39% of pupils
getting five A*-C results.

Principal Richard Hart praised staff and pupils for the
improvements which have been made since the school opened three
years ago. The percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C grades,
including English and maths, in 2009 was 21%.

Mr Hart said: "The Academy is particularly proud of the
improvements in the rates of progress of all children which
underlines our commitment to ensuring that all students fulfil
their potential.

"I am delighted with the achievements of our students and now we
are in our stunning new facility we look forward to celebrating
greater success in the future."

The most improved school in Medway is the Bishop of Rochester
Academy where the number of pupils achieving A*-C grades, including
English and maths, has more than doubled. In 2012, 42% of pupils
achieved A*-C, compared to 16% in 2011.

There remains a big gap between the achievements of pupils
defined as disadvantaged and those that are not.

In Medway, pupils on free school meals are much less likely to
secure five or more good
GCSEs than others. The tables show 37% of poorer pupils achieved
five or more A*-C grades.

At A-level, the top three best performing schools based on
average points score per student were Rochester Grammar, Fort Pitt
and Rainham Mark.

At the bottom of the results table were Brompton Academy and the
Bishop of Rochester Academy.

A Medway Council spokesman said: "We congratulate the pupils and
teachers at the two secondary schools in Medway listed that are
under local authority control as their results have, yet again,
improved from the previous year. These are St John Fisher and The
Howard School.

"The Department for Education tables show results for 21
secondary schools in total across Medway and 19 of these are either
academies or other schools that are independent from the
council.

"However, we would like to say well done to all the pupils In
Medway, as well as their teachers, for the hard work they have all
individually put in to achieve their results."