AROUND half of North Somerset secondary school pupils are failing to achieve a grade C or above in GCSE English and maths or science.

AROUND half of North Somerset secondary school pupils are failing to achieve a grade C or above in GCSE English and maths or science.

All but two schools in the district are also making below average progress between the last year of primary school and year 11, according to the latest figures released by the Government.

The statistics for the 2006/07 academic year have been made available to the public for the first time today (Thurs) by the department for children, schools and families.

The results give information on the achievements of secondary school pupils across the district, as well as for Somerset.

Tables show the exam results at the end of key stage four, when most teenagers are at GCSE level or equivalent and in year 11.

They show that around 50 per cent of pupils in North Somerset's secondary schools are failing to achieve what is known as 'functional English and maths', which is a GCSE grade C or above or equivalent. Those achieving the same grade in two science modules, which the syllabus requires them to take, stands at only 53 per cent.

In Somerset, 60 per cent of pupils achieved a C or above in English or maths and 64 per cent in science at Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar.

At The King Alfred School in Highbridge, 43 per cent achieved a C or above in the three subjects.

The tables also give a contextual value added (CVA) score for each school. They measure the progress made by pupils at the end of key stage two to the end of key stage four, using their test and exam results.

The figures also take into account factors which are outside a school's control such as gender and deprivation which have been said to impact on youngsters' academic achievements.

The CVA measure is shown as a score with the average around 1,000.

Figures above 1,000 represent schools where pupils on average made more progress than similar youngsters nationally and scores below 1,000 represent schools where pupils made less progress.

The results for post-16 education were also released and showed the average points score pupils left with.

Gordano School came out on top with an average of 802.1 per pupil and St Katherine's School in Pill came bottom with an average of 620.8.

The CVA results for North Somerset and Somerset schools and the percentage who achieved GCSE grade C or above or equivalent in English and maths, followed by science were:

* Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College - 1015.8, 39 per cent, 40 per cent.

* Churchill Community School - 1009.7, 58 per cent, 67 per cent.

* Clevedon Community School - 988.4, 42 per cent, 44 per cent.

* Gordano School - 993.2, 66 per cent, 65 per cent.

* Nailsea School - 980.6, 59 per cent, 58 per cent.

* Priory Community School - 996.3, 43 per cent, 51 per cent.

* St Katherine's School in Pill - 999.4, 42 per cent, 59 per cent.

* Sidcot School in Winscombe - CVA (non-applicable as private school), 93 per cent, 91 per cent.

* Worle Community School - 994.3, 52 per cent, 52 per cent.

* Wyvern Community School - 971.7, 25 per cent, 18 per cent.

* Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar - 1008.8, 63 per cent, 64 per cent.

* The King Alfred School in Highbridge - 984.5, 45 per cent, 43 per cent.