Both Harrow and Brent above national GCSE average

Feb 10 2012 By David Baker

SECONDARY schools across Harrow and Brent have continued to achieve above the national average in GCSE results, according to results released last week.

The statistics, revealed by The Department for Education, show that 65 per cent of pupils in Harrow and 62 per cent in Brent are meeting government standards of five A* to C grades, including in English and maths.

This puts both boroughs above the national average of 58.9 per cent.

For Harrow this represented a best ever result for the borough as it moved up the league tables to 16th best achieving local authority.

Portfolio holder for schools at Harrow Council, councillor Brian Gate, said: “These results are excellent and show just how highly we value and support learning and education in Harrow.”

In Brent, the results were a huge improvement on last year’s 57 per cent.

Councillor Mary Arnold, Brent Council’s lead member for children and families, said: “GCSE results are above the national average again this year, in spite of Brent being amongst the most disadvantaged boroughs in the country.

“Supporting students’ achievement at school and their resilience is vital in getting into good further and higher education, training and jobs.”

The top performing school was independent girls’ school Heathfield, in Beaulieu Drive, Pinner, which was the only school in both boroughs where 100 per cent of their pupils achieved at least five A*- C GCSEs, including English and maths.

Mother-of-one Marie Carpenter, of Kenton Lane, is pleased with Harrow’s continued success and said the progress bodes well for her 11-year-old son, Jake.

The 39-year-old said: “It is obviously good news that schools in Harrow continue to do well in exam results.

“I think it is felt among most parents that we are lucky to have a good education set up in the borough and hopefully that will continue.”