Un-validated Key Stage 4 data supplied to the City of Wolverhampton Council by 15 of the City's 17 secondary schools suggests that 59% of students in Wolverhampton secured 5 or more GCSEs including Maths and English at grades A*-C and the new grade 4 or above.
Last year, validated data showed that 53% of students achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including Maths and English, which in itself was up from 52% in 2015 and 46% in 2014.
This year's results include new grading for Maths and English of 1-9, rather than A*-G, and have increased the standard required for a pass. Despite this, the un-validated data suggests the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 4 standard pass in both English and Maths has risen to 61% in 2017 from 59% last year.
Councillor Claire Darke, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "Although this is un-validated data, the outcomes that we have been given by local schools are very encouraging.
"The new grading system has raised the bar for pass rates in English and Maths, and so it is very pleasing that the proportion of students securing 5 or more GCSEs, including those two all important subjects, looks set to have increased again this year - for the fourth year running.
"This is testament to the hard work of schools, pupils and parents, and also shows the impact of the excellent work which is taking place between our School Standards Team and local schools to raise educational standards still further."
The un-validated data also shows good outcomes at post-16, with the percentage of students achieving at least 3 A-levels or equivalent qualifications increasing year on year at a number of City schools.
In July, un-validated data from schools showed improved outcomes at Early Years and Key Stages 1 and 2, with an increase in the proportion of children reaching a "good" level of development at the end of Reception in 2017 - for the fifth year running - and another increase in the proportion of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils reaching the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics.
Validated Early Years and Key Stage 1 and 2 outcomes will be published by the Government this autumn, with final Key Stage 4 and 5 outcomes published in December or January 2018.
- released: Thursday 7 September, 2017