SCHOOL pupils in Pershore and Evesham achieved better GCSE results this year, figures show.

At Pershore High School, 66 per cent of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades in both English and maths – the Government’s benchmark.

That was a rise from 61 per cent of pupils who achieved the same benchmark the previous year.

At Evesham High School 57 per cent of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades in English and maths – a rise from 46 per cent of pupils who reached the same levels last year.

However, at Prince Henry’s High School, 62 per cent of pupils achieved the same benchmark in 2011, less than the previous year when 67 per cent achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades.

All schools were still above the Worcestershire average, which saw just over 60 per cent of pupils achieve five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades in both English and maths in 2011. That was a rise of 54.9 per cent from the figure in 2010.

The figures put Worcestershire above the national figure for the same benchmark which is 58.9 per cent. The Government’s floor standard for schools is 35 per cent.

The head of Pershore High Clive Corbett said: “We are pleased but we are continuing to work on making sure we improve for everyone. We always feel we can do better.”

Caroline Browne, headteacher at Evesham High, said: “We have really worked hard on the five or more A* to C grade including English and maths and had this massive increase last year and that’s great. We will always keep trying to raise our standards.

There is nothing in these figures for us to be ashamed of, only things to be pleased with.”

Bernard Roberts, head of Prince Henry’s, said: “We were very pleased even though the results were slightly down on last year, “Our value-added score was one of the strongest in the country.”