SECONDARY school league tables looking at how pupils performed in their GCSE and A-level exams across the country are out today.

According to data published by the Department of Education (DoE) York, North and East Yorkshire’s schools and colleges have again performed strongly, and among those celebrating top results are pupils at York’s Fulford School, which was the top performing state school in the city at GCSE with 80 per cent of pupils getting five or more A*-C grades including English and maths.

Across the city the percentage of pupils gaining five or more A*–C grades at GCSE, including English and maths at York schools is 67 per cent, which is an improvement of four percentage points from last year.

Results for vulnerable children and those living in poverty including those on free school meals and looked after children have continued to improve, with the gap between these children and others across the city closing by three percentage points since 2011.

The results place York well above the national average, and in the top 15 per cent of Local Authorities in England.

Coun Janet Looker, cabinet member for education at City of York Council, said: “I would like to congratulate pupils and their families, teaching staff and school governors for their efforts in achieving these excellent results. Of course, behind the statistics are the real stories of personal achievement and I’m delighted that so many young people in York have achieved their personal goals.”

Maxine Squire, interim assistant director of education at City of York Council, said: “I’d like to thank all those involved in working hard to ensure that York’s secondary schools continue to be amongst the best in the country.

“It’s particularly satisfying to see the improvement made by some of the city’s most vulnerable children, as we strive to ensure that York is one of the best places in the country for all our children to grow up.”

In North Yorkshire at GCSE, more than 65 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C results including English and maths for the second consecutive year.

The proportion of students in North Yorkshire who have attained this measure over the last three years averages at 64.7 per cent; a score which has put North Yorkshire in the top 20 per cent of local authorities nationally over this time.

Across the county the proportion of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at A*-C, or equivalent qualifications, in any subjects was 84 per cent.

North Yorkshire also performed very strongly for achievement in the English Baccalaureate, awarded to pupils who achieve at least a C grade in five specific GCSE subjects - English, maths, a humanity, a language and two sciences. Up to 29 per cent of pupils across the county gained the English Baccalaureate, an increase of seven per cent from last year.

Several schools have improved their five A*-C GCSE results including English and maths significantly including Malton School, King James, Norton College, Whitby Community College and Lady Lumley’s School increased the proportion of pupils achieving this outcome by over 10 per cent.

Nearly 82 per cent of North Yorkshire students gained at least three A levels or equivalent, with 16 per cent achieving the AAB grades which are needed for entry to many prestigious universities.

Coun Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire’s executive member for schools, said: “North Yorkshire has scored highly again. The figures show today that the county’s schools prepare our young people very well for their next steps into training or further and higher education.

“This means they are able to access the full range of choices, including entry to the top universities. They also show that strong partnerships between schools and between schools and the local authority have led to even higher standards.”

Meanwhile in East Yorkshire the overall percentage of children achieving five A*-C including English and maths at GCSE has improved to 61 per cent and is the best ever for schools in the county with 61.7 per cent achieving C grades or better in English and maths.

Mike Furbank, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's head of education, said: "Children in our schools supported by their teachers worked very hard to achieve this. It is good to see that the outcomes are above the national average and we await with interest to see where we sit in the national and regional picture when we see all the results today."

For a full list of the league tables see tomorrow's edition of The Press.