Very pleased they have done so well

The tables are based on results from last summer's GCSEs, AS and A-levels.

The county was ranked among the top third in the country for both.

The DfES this year included a wider range of awards - such as General National Vocational Qualifications, certificates in foreign language and national certificate in business - in the tables.

Despite this change, Malvern

Girls's College topped the county's A-level performers for the second year in a row.

"We are delighted with our excellent results," said headteacher Philippa Leggate.

"These bear out the fact that girls continue to realise their potential and thrive while in an all-girls environment."

Independent schools dominated the other top positions, with Bromsgrove School in second, The King's School, Worcester, third and the Royal Grammar School and St Mary's Convent School, both in Worcester, completing the top five.

Worcester Sixth Form College, the city's biggest AS and A-level centre, also performed well, ranked 12th in the county and fourth among the comprehensive schools and colleges.

"We are very pleased our students have done so well. Given that we have an open access policy our performances in the league tables are excellent," said principal John Tredwell.

"But our value-added results are particularly good and it's disappointing the Government has delayed announcing these at Sixth Form level."

However, value-added results were announced up to GCSE level and comprehensive schools were celebrating claiming most of the top positions.

Bishop Perowne CE High School was one that excelled under the system, where schools are ranked by how much pupils improve over time as opposed to straight exam results.

The DfES contacted the Worcester school earlier this week to say it had achieved a Grade A - the highest mark available - under the value-added format.

"We are absolutely delighted with our results," said headteacher Julie Farr.

"These league tables are only one part of the picture of any school but they are a further endorsement of the work here."

What the tables mean

a. The number of pupils eligible for GCSE and equivalent qualifications - the number of pupils aged 15

b. The percentage of candidates getting five A* to C-grades at GCSE or equivalent

c. Average GCSE points per pupil

d. The school's Key Stage 3 to GCSE value-added score (see explanation on opposite page)

e. The rank within its LEA the school achieved according to its value-added score

f. The combined A-Level and AS-Level points score per candidate where an A-Level A scores 120 points under the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariff and B 100 points and so on to an E, which scores 40

g. The combined A-Level and AS-Level points score per entry

h. The rank within its LEA the school achieved according to its A-Level points score per entry. Ties are broken by the number of pupils eligible to take the exams (the school with the larger number is judged to have performed better).

i. The percentage of half-days missed due to unauthorised absence (truancy).

j. The rank within its LEA the school achieved according to its truancy rate. Ties broken by number of pupils on whole school roll, with the larger number judged to have performed better and the best school ranked number 1.

- not applicable

Figures above 0 per cent but below 0.5 per cent

NOTE: Take care when comparing results for schools with small numbers of pupils eligible for exams.

Best at A-level

Two counties schools in the top 200 in the country at

A-level, based on UCAS points per student.

The Alice Ottley School, Worcester

Malvern Girls' College, Malvern

Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove

South Bromsgrove High School was among the top 200 state schools, by the same criterion, at A-level

Best value-added

THE top two counties schools under the value-added system.

Haybridge High School, Hagley

St Mary's Convent School, Worcester

Wolverley High School, near Kidderminster

Prince Henry's High School, Evesham

Bishop Perowne CE High School, Worcester

...and the worst

THE two counties' worst performing state schools - all among the bottom 200 in the country

Baxter College, Kidderminster

Kidderminster College, Kidderminster

North East Worcestershire College, Bromsgrove

Evesham and Malvern Hills College, Evesham

a b c d e f g h i j

Abbey College, Malvern 0 - - - - 263.6 86.6 9 - -

Baxter College, Kidderminster 128 23 223.6 967.9 34 107.6 44.1 39 1.0 36

Bewdley High School and Sixth Form Centre 181 58 353.0 996.5 17 280.3 81.4 15 0.7 33

Bishop Perowne CofE High School, Worcester 187 55 358.5 1007.3 5 - - - 1.3 38

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Worcester 204 70 431.5 1006.1 7 - - - 0.3 22

Bowbrook House School, Pershore 18 83 323.6 1000.6 10 - - - 15

Bromsgrove School 156 81 395.4 - - 386.9 100.5 2 9

Christopher Whitehead High School, Worcester 234 49 327.7 986.7 28 - - - 0.6 29

Coach House School, Bromsgrove 2 - - - - - - - 1.6 44

Droitwich Spa High School 305 50 330.4 987.7 26 303.4 74.0 25 0.3 19

Dyson Perrins CofE High School, Malvern 149 48 331.0 975.8 31 298.9 80.3 16 0.3 24

Elgar Technology College, Worcester 176 24 235.6 992.9 19 - - - 2.6 45

Evesham High School 219 47 341.2 997.7 16 241.5 69.6 29 0.5 28

Evesham and Malvern Hills College, Evesham 0 - - - - 134.0 55.8 36 - -

Hagley Roman Catholic High School 166 74 372.3 988.6 24 301.7 75.8 19 0.5 27

Hanley Castle High School, Worcester 150 70 367.6 991.1 21 317.1 79.1 17 0.3 25

Hartlebury School, Kidderminster 5 20 100.4 - - - - - 0.0 7

Haybridge High School and Sixth Form, Hagley 159 94 565.9 1019.0 1 299.2 88.5 8 0.2 17

Heathfield School, Kidderminster 21 100 399.9 - - - - - 0.0 3

Holy Trinity School, Kidderminster 29 90 474.5 999.5 13 297.1 82.1 13 14

Kidderminster College 0 - - - - 112.5 54.2 38 - -

King Charles I School, Kidderminster 254 60 363.0 993.5 18 297.5 75.7 20 1.6 42

Madinatul Uloom Al Islamiya School, Kidderminster 15 0 190.1 938.8 35 - - - - -

Malvern College 84 89 425.7 - - 327.0 91.5 7 11

Malvern Girls' College 52 71 368.4 - - 410.8 104.4 1 0.1 16

The Chase, Malvern 272 60 371.4 990.7 22 307.6 85.4 10 1.2 37

The Chantry High School, Martley 140 69 373.8 990.1 23 - - - 12

Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester 264 49 336.1 982.5 30 - - - 0.9 35

Pershore Group of Colleges 0 - - - - - - 41 - -

Pershore High School 222 62 408.7 1000.8 9 248.3 74.6 23 0.3 20

Prince Henry's High School, Evesham 294 79 440.0 1008.4 4 315.3 84.4 11 0.3 21

RNIB New College, Worcester 0 - - - - 190.6 64.8 31 - -

Royal Grammar School, Worcester 110 95 455.0 988.6 25 339.8 95.8 4 10

South Bromsgrove Community High School 327 63 410.0 999.4 14 334.5 81.4 14 0.7 32

St James's School, Malvern 19 68 315.8 - - 237.9 78.7 18 0.0 6

St Mary's Convent School, Worcester 25 100 498.3 1013.6 2 316.2 94.2 5 0.0 2

Stourport High School Language College 222 43 333.5 999.8 11 241.3 64.2 32 1.3 39

The Alice Ottley School, Worcester 52 90 460.2 - - 414.2 94.1 6 0.0 1

The King's School, Worcester 114 98 481.7 - - 343.3 97.5 3 8

The River School, Worcester 12 67 327.3 - - - - - 0.4 26

Whitford Hall and Dodderhill School, Droitwich 13 85 413.1 - - - - - 0.0 5

Wolverley High School, Kidderminster 206 47 361.9 1013.4 3 237.7 64.2 33 0.2 18

Worcester College of Technology 0 - - - - 146.4 56.1 35 - -

Worcester Sixth Form College 0 - - - - 269.1 82.3 12 - -