IN the past three years, pupils at West Park School have increased its five or more A* to C pass rate by 43%.

This year's pupils have taken the result to 92% – the highest-ever in the city among schools receiving funding through the city council.

Head teacher Brian Walker is absolutely delighted with the 250 pupils.

He is also pleased that the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, has also improved by 3% to 56%.

While the 92% figure is admirable, it will not unfortunately feature in any future Government-published tables.

Ministers have chosen to use the figure of five or more A* to C grades including maths and English as the gold standard in the future, in a desire to see pupils leave with good literacy and numeracy skills.

But Mr Walker chose to concentrate on the results rather than consider Government decisions over achievement tables.

He said: "This year's results are the school's best ever, built on the solid achievement of the last few years.

"We are especially pleased with achievement in English and maths but results are good across the board.

"Our aim now is to be judged 'outstanding' by Government inspectors when they next visit.

"Pupils worked very hard and got the results they deserved and many of them will now be going on into employment and training, as well as further education."

At Murray Park School in Mickleover it was also a record breaking year, with 67% of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, 42% with English and maths.

Head teacher Eddie Green said: "This is a school record and we have exceeded our target."

At Noel-Baker Community School, 34% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, up 2% from last year.

Head teacher Margaret EIey said: "I am very pleased that Noel-Baker students have achieved the best set of results in the history of the school.

"Their achievements reflect the dedication and hard work of our students and staff.

"The school continues to go from strength to strength and I am confident that these improvements will continue."

Littleover Community School continued its steady progress with 87% five or more A* to C grades, up 2% from last year, and 76% including English and maths, an increase of 1% on 2008.

Head teacher David Nichols said: "I am very pleased with these results and many of our pupils have achieved well individually. Our A* and A grades have increased this year."

At St John Houghton Catholic School, in Kirk Hallam, head teacher Bernard Monaghan said he was "absolutely delighted" with the results, which had 86% of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, 65% of them with English and maths.

He said: "The commitment, dedication and hard work of students and staff together with the support of parents and governors have all contributed to these excellent results.

"I congratulate all students on their great achievements and offer my very best wishes as they prepare for further education or employment."

It was a record year at Heanor Gate Science College where 68% of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades in all subjects compared with 54% in 2008 and 62% of them included English and maths – up from 46% in 2008.

Head teacher Rob Howard said: "This is the result of having personalised learning programmes for individual pupils."

At Ockbrook School, 99% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades including English and maths, with 58% of them either A or A* passes.

The girls at Derby High School have also been celebrating another excellent set of GCSE results, which have come close to equalling the school's record results of last year.

Almost a third of all grades achieved were at A* and just under 70% of all grades achieved were A* or A. Twelve girls achieved at least six A* grades.

Head teacher Colin Callaghan said: "While celebrating the results of their highest achievers, the school is equally pleased with results across the board, with an five or more A* to C pass rate of 99%.

"We want all our girls to feel that their results are the best they could have achieved, whether it be a string of A* grades or passing all their GCSEs at grade C or above.

"I think that this year's candidates will be delighted with their results, which in some cases will have exceeded their expectations and which are the culmination of a lot of dedicated hard work, both by the girls and the staff."

Repton School has also seen an increase in the percentage of GCSEs awarded an A*, with 37% of the exams sat by its year 11 pupils gaining the top grade, compared with 30% last year.

Seven pupils achieved 10 or more A* passes and 67% of entries have been awarded an A or A* grade.

For the fourth consecutive year, more than 80% were awarded either an A or B grade.

Deputy head (academic) Tim Owen said: "It is excellent news that an even greater proportion of our candidates than last year achieved the highest possible grades. Congratulations go to all of our GCSE students and to all of our staff who have worked hard to help them achieve these results."

At Woodlands School in Allestree, head teacher Alan Brady was pleased with the results.

A total of 72% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, 58% of them including English and maths but a fall from 70% last year.

Mr Brady said: "I congratulate all the pupils who have done so well.

"I am very proud of their achievements and pay tribute to their hard work and commitment. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of a committed staff.

"Twelve pupils have gained straight As or A*s in 11 or more subjects.

At Sinfin Community School, the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths slipped from 30% to 25%.

The percentage was also down at Lees Brook Community Sports College, in Chaddesden, where the five or more A* to C grades fell from 56% to 45%.

It was a fall also at Merrill College from 23% to 14% for five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, at da Vinci Community College, from 31% to 30%, and Derby Moor Community Sports College, Littleover, from 46% to 42%.

But results at Bemrose Community School rose from 18% last year to 20%.