The Isle of Sheppey Academy is ranked in the bottom 10 schools in the county for GCSE attainment – but things are improving.

League tables for 2011 published at the end of last month show that 35% of 347 pupils are achieving five or more GCSEs graded at A* to C including English and maths.

This is a 5% improvement on the tables from 2010.

The figures have been revealed just weeks after the school received a notice to improve in its latest Ofsted inspection.

However, principal David Day has praised the improvements shown in the league tables and vowed that he and his team were doing all they could to make things better for the 2,000-plus students.

A new indicator in the league tables showing how well pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds did compared with others revealed a gap.

There were 23% of disadvantaged children who gained five or more GCSEs graded at A* to C including English and maths.

This compares with 38% of non-disadvantaged students.

The school’s Key Stage 4 contextual value added score, which measures the progress made by pupils when they leave primary school up to the end of Year 11, was 976.4.

That is below the national average of 1,000 and again places the school in the bottom 10 in the county.

A number of factors are taken into account when producing the score, such as special educational needs and family circumstances.

The school fared better with its A-level achievements – the tables for which have also been released.

Of 76 students sitting exams, 100% gained at least two or more A-levels and 61% got three or more.

Mr Day said: “We are delighted that the academy has sustained a year-on-year improvement in GCSE results and we are setting ourselves challenging targets to accelerate the progress, particularly in maths and English.

“In terms of A-levels, we are very pleased that every sixth-former left the academy with a minimum of two A-level passes.

“The number of A, B and C grades and distinctions in B-tec courses are a tribute to the hard work of the students and the dedication of the teachers.”