DESPITE what is thought to be the biggest drop in English grades in the history of GCSE there has been a slight increase in the number of candidates who scored an A* to C pass.

That was borne out across the North-East and North Yorkshire with many schools reporting record performances.

Fears that Government reforms, which have placed a greater emphasis on final exams, would adversely affect pupils’ grades proved well-founded in English, where 61.7 per cent of entries scored A*-C, down 1.9 percentage points compared to last summer.

But candidates in England excelled in maths with 62.4 per cent of entries gaining an A*-C grade, up 4.8 percentage points on 2013.

In spite of the expected turbulence caused by former Education Secretary Michael Gove’s controversial reforms, the overall proportion of students obtaining an A*-C pass (68.8 per cent ) was up by 0.7 per cent on last summer, according to statistics published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.

The proportion of entries awarded the highest grade has also fallen slightly, with 6.7 per cent gaining an A*, down from 6.8 per cent last year. It is the third year in a row that this has dropped.

Exam chiefs suggested that the changes in results were down to recent education reforms, including removing speaking and listening from final English grades.

Sedgefield Community College in County Durham was one of many state secondary schools in the region that reported record results.

A total of 82 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and Maths – with 92 per cent of pupils achieving A*to C in English, putting the school in the top five per cent in the country

Sedgefield headteacher, Dave Davies, said the changes to the exam system imposed on schools within the last year had been “grossly unfair to both students and teachers.”

Durham Johnston in Durham City recorded the strongest performance at GCSE in the school’s history with 81 per cent achieving five GCSE passes at A* to C including maths and English.

Whitworth Park School in Spennymoor also broke records after 85 per cent of students collected five A*-C passes including maths and English.

Similarly, Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College had record results, with 64 per cent of candidates passing English and maths.

At Richmond School in North Yorkshire there was a five per cent increase in the proportion of students getting five good passes – taking the total up to 72 per cent.

On Teesside, Thornaby Academy recorded the highest ever number of A* and As with 23 per cent achieving at least three A*s and As

Carmel College in Darlington had another impressive year with 91 per cent of students achieving A*-C passes and 86 per cent including England and Maths.

Hummersknott Academy in Darlington saw 72 per cent of candidates gaining five A* to C grades, including English and Maths.

Longfield Academy recorded a 33 per cent increase in the proportion of students getting an A* to C pass at English – taking the final total up to an impressive 88 per cent.

Independent schools enjoyed bumper results with Yarm School recording its best ever figures, Ripon Grammar recorded its highest ever percentage of top grades with a third obtaining an A* while 98 per cent of candidates sitting GCSE at Red House School in Norton gained five good passes including English and maths.