MANCHESTER schools are narrowing the gap on their rivals. Exam league tables out today show the city has chalked up its greatest improvement in GCSE results in the region.

Last year 33.3 per cent of 16-year olds in the city's schools reached the government benchmark of five or more A*-C grade GCSEs. But this year that figure rose to 39.4.

And the 6.1 per cent increase - which is four-and-a-half times the national increase - comes after measures were implemented to motivate youngsters and boost attainment. This has included teachers calling at pupils' homes to make sure they arrive in school in time to sit their exams and extra tuition sessions to help youngsters study.

And students were even given a pep talk by Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien and Bruno Langley - whose on screen characters Sarah Louise and Todd Grimshaw were also sweating over their GCSEs and A-levels at the same time.

Overall, Manchester ranks as ninth in the GCSE performance league of the 10 Greater Manchester authorities - overtaking Salford's GCSE performance for the first time.

Chief education officer Mick Waters says efforts to boost results through the targeting of borderline pupils are being stepped up this year.

"Parents can now begin to take confidence in the fact that their children's schools are making marked progress. And there will be even greater successes in the future," he said.

Staggering

The biggest increase in results in Manchester this year was at Trinity CE High School, where 70 per cent of students reached the government benchmark of five or more A* to C grade GCSEs.

That's a staggering 25 per cent higher than the proportion that made the grade last year.

Headteacher Mike Evans forecasts that within two years the proportion of pupils leaving the school with five or more top grade passes will reach 80. Yet he says results are only a small part of the school's success.

"I don't need league tables to tell me we are doing well," said Mr Evans, whose school is one of just 102 `leading edge' schools in the country.

"Instead of a narrow focus of targets, tests and tables we emphasise an ethos of education such as freedom, faith, flexibility, fairness, fun and fulfilment.

"Education is much, much more than exam success, but we are delighted that our results have improved so tremendously."

King David High School, where a staggering 98 per cent of pupils reached the benchmark level, ranked as the top performing school overall and its value added score of 105.7 is also the highest.

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