An educational unit that deals with "problem pupils" has been praised in a recent Ofsted report.

TdaNews Direct
Published: 29 October, 2007

Schools in Wakefield have achieved record GCSE results, according to new figures released this week.

A report published by the government's Department for Children, Schools Secondary claims that GCSE results in the district made the third biggest improvement in the country since 2006 and the seventh biggest improvement in the last decade.

The number of 15 and 16 year olds achieving five or more GCSEs at A* to C grade increased from 57.7 per cent in 2006 to 65.2 per cent in 2007, marking a 7.5 per cent increase compared with the national average of 1.8 per cent.

Elaine McHale, Wakefield council's corporate director for family services, praised local staff and students for the results.

"We congratulate the young people and all those who have supported them. This year's results have secured further learning opportunities for young people and these national figures acknowledge how hard they have worked," she said.

Ms McHale added: "Schools and pupils across Wakefield have excelled again this year and this has been highlighted in the announcement that we are the third most improved education authority in the country for GCSE results."

Councillor Trevor Izon, the Young People's Minister also commended the district's success calling the achievement an "outstanding benchmark".