WEST Somerset College has ended a year of turmoil with an increase in the percentage of students achieving the top benchmark grades at GCSE.
A total of 47 per cent of teenagers achieved five or more A* to C, including English and maths, in results published yesterday (Thursday).
And although the figure is below the 69 per cent pass rate nationally and less than the 49 per cent achieved by the college in 2013, it is a significant improvement on last year.
The 2014 results, which initially saw just 38 per cent of the 265 students who took GCSEs gaining five or more A* to C grades, sparked a storm of criticism and discontent amongst parents.
And it eventually led to the college being placed in special measures last October following a damning report by education watchdog Ofsted.
The Bridgwater College Trust took over running the campus in March and a month later principal Gaynor Comber – the focus of a high profile campaign and petition calling for her to step down – finally resigned.
Peter Elliott, executive headteacher of Bridgwater College Academy, who has been based at West Somerset College since March, described this year’s results as a positive step in the right direction.
“We were pleased that we were able to have a positive impact on the GCSE results given the short period of time we had to work with the college students and staff,” he said.
“The results in 2015 are better across a range of measures than in 2014 and of course this is a good thing.
“We must also celebrate the outcomes of those students who worked so very hard to achieve their personal best in these exams.
“However, we must not be complacent as there remains much to do before we are at the point where all of the students are achieving their fullest potential in all areas.”