Exam result joy for school

A Sedgley school is celebrating being top of the class after an improvement in exam results led to it receiving a prestigious award.

The High Arcal School has been presented with a Most Improved Schools Club award.

The accolade came after the school boosted GCSE grades by more than 10 per cent since 2003.

Last year the improving school, which specialises in maths and science, smashed its exam record with 63 per cent of pupils bagging top A* to C grades.

The accolade is bestowed by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

Headteacher Jo Manson said: "They were challenging targets because in 2003 the percentage of top grades was in the low 50s," she said.

"I think the success is down to focusing on individual students and helping them to improve. Staff work very hard and were delighted the efforts paid off through the exam results. It gives subsequent years a huge lift in confidence because they see what can be achieved."

In 2004 the school was made a specialist science college and a further celebration for High Arcal is its designation as a satellite science learning centre.

This means teachers from schools around the West Midlands can attend the school to use its laboratory facilities. High Arcal will also be investing in learning equipment such as inflatable planets to help bring science lessons to life.