STAFF at Mount Carmel RC Science College are celebrating after coming top of this year’s Hyndburn school league table.

Government statistics released yesterday show that the average total point score of pupils completing GCSE exams was 436 – 43.4 points above the Lancashire average and 40.9 points above the national average.

The rating is based on the total number of points achieved by pupils aged 15 or 16 taking GCSEs divided by the number of pupils on the school roll.

Headteacher Katrina Ryan said: "We are absolutely delighted with this year’s results, particularly the average total point score. We have had an increase of 14 per cent in the number pupils achieving A* to C grades in English and maths.

"The results are all down to the hard work of our dedicated staff and pupils."

St Christopher’s CE High School came second, scoring highly in all categories with GCSE results well above the national and Lancashire averages.

Only Norden Sports College in Rishton dipped below these averages but still improved its A* to C GCSE results including English and maths.

Results were up nine per cent to a total of 39 per cent of pupils achieving these grades.

Under Government guidelines, schools with 30 per cent or less are underachieving.

Norden headteacher Bob Flood said he was delighted the school is no longer in this "danger zone".

He said: "We are very, very pleased with the results. We are particularly pleased with the improvements in English and maths. The Government said all schools should achieve a 30 per cent rate and we have done this.

"I am really pleased with our pupils’ performance and I think it is right the Government is putting more emphasis on English and maths. These results are a reflection of the work students and staff put in, and the support we have received from parents."

Mr Andrew Bateman, head of the former Moorhead High School which is now the Accrington Academy, said: "We were pleased with the general results which showed improvements in most areas in terms of A* to C grades in all subject areas.

"But we were disappointed with our English and maths results.

"We had expected a drop as one of the issues was lack of availability of staff in these areas but we have addressed the issues and are set to improve next year."

Click on View gallery to see the table in full ...