Figures obtained by the Evening Telegraph reveal our schools are improving at a slower rate than those in other counties in England and fewer pupils achieve the desired five or more A* to C grades than the average.

The only exception is Corby, where a schools partnership has seen huge improvements in performance at GCSE.

Wellingborough has shown the least improvement in the county.

The GCSE figures are part of a wider Evening Telegraph investigation into schools performance covering the 10-year period from when Tony Blair announced "education, education, education" was to be his top priority as Prime Minister.

Harry Darby, the county council's head of services for schools, said: "Between 1997 and 2007 everyone has improved but some have improved further than others.

"Our School Improvement Strategy has plans to do more Easter revision classes and to stretch pupils more, but we also want to look at things like how we can support children mentally and emotionally. That will be a bit of a slower burner."

In Corby, an Excellence Cluster was launched, where schools work together to raise results. It has seen almost one quarter more pupils achieve five or more A* to C grade GCSE passes in the past 10 years.

Wellingborough is now adopting a similar scheme to raise standards.
Kingswood School headteacher David Tristram said: "I believe we, and other schools in the area, will go on improving because we are always looking for ways to improve the outcomes for our students to give them a better chance in life.

"I think the national average is well within our grasp and we should reach it very soon."

This week the Evening Telegraph will be featuring special reports about how the county has developed since Mr Blair's education pledge, looking at literacy and numeracy results, the changing face of our schools and plans for developing higher education in north Northamptonshire.

Click here to view GCSE student Hannah Sketchley's online diary.


Go here for our special education section online.