Thousands fail to get five GSCE's

Thousands of teenagers are leaving secondary schools across the West Midlands without five decent GCSEs and a good grasp of English and maths, new figures have revealed.

League tables out show more than 36,000 pupils left school last year without five or more A*-C grades including the two core subjects. Nationally, 340,000 students failed to hit the benchmark.

In the West Midlands, 46.1 per cent of the region's 67,466 pupils who sat the exams in 2007/08 achieved five top grades including all-important English and maths – 1.5 per cent below the national average.

The worst Black Country schools identified by the league tables were Dudley's Pensnett High School and Wolverhampton's Parkfield High School, where just 11 per cent of pupils met the target.

Sandwell had among the fewest number of children in the country attaining the pass rate – just 31.5 per cent of pupils in the borough left school with five or more high results.

In Dudley, 47 per cent of teenagers made the grade, in Walsall 41 per cent, Wolverhampton 40 per cent and Staffordshire 49.7 per cent. The Government target is for all schools to have at least 30 per cent of students achieving at least five A*-C grades, including English and maths, by 2011.

The Government have warned schools that fall short of the target could face closure or being turned into an academy.

But the Tories have accused the Government of failing to meet its promises on education, while the Liberal Democrats said the results were "unacceptable" with far too many schools failing to get good qualifications.

But Schools Secretary Ed Balls is confident the targets would be met by 2011 but admitted there was no room for complacency.

He said: "We now need to continue to concentrate on the remaining schools and ensure we are giving them the support and challenge they need to make sure no child is left behind.

"This is no time for excuses – I want every child to go to a good school."