Secondary school league tables for England show that 471 schools fell below the government's "floor target" for pupils' exam results last summer.
Secondary school league tables for England show that 471 schools fell below the government's "floor target" for pupils' exam results last summer.
Thirty-one have now closed. But more than 160 previously on this National Challenge "hit list" have improved.
Thirty-one have now closed. But more than 160 previously on this National Challenge "hit list" have improved.
Unions denounced the government's "arbitrary" targets, while the Tories said Labour was failing to deliver.
Unions denounced the government's "arbitrary" targets, while the Tories said Labour was failing to deliver.
Overall less than half of pupils (47.6% ) achieved five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths.
Overall less than half of pupils (47.6% ) achieved five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths.
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The tables reveal there were 94 state and independent schools where all the pupils who sat their GCSEs and equivalent exams last summer attained this benchmark, regarded as the key to further education or employment.
The tables reveal there were 94 state and independent schools where all the pupils who sat their GCSEs and equivalent exams last summer attained this benchmark, regarded as the key to further education or employment.
2008 SECONDARY SCHOOL TABLES five good GCSEs with English and maths: 47.6%girls: 52.3%boys: 43.2%community schools: 44.8%academies: 35.6%less than 30% in 440 open schools
2008 SECONDARY SCHOOL TABLES five good GCSEs with English and maths: 47.6%girls: 52.3%boys: 43.2%community schools: 44.8%academies: 35.6%less than 30% in 440 open schools
The best was Lawrence Sheriff boys' grammar in Warwickshire whose 89 students had an average points score of 792, which equates to more than 13 A* grades apiece.
The best was Lawrence Sheriff boys' grammar in Warwickshire whose 89 students had an average points score of 792, which equates to more than 13 A* grades apiece.
The worst maintained school was Parkside Community Technology College in Devonport where only 5% of the 37 pupils achieved five good GCSEs.
The worst maintained school was Parkside Community Technology College in Devonport where only 5% of the 37 pupils achieved five good GCSEs.
The school has now been closed, its pupils transferred to other schools locally.
The school has now been closed, its pupils transferred to other schools locally.
It did however have a high "contextual value added" (CVA) score, indicating how much progress the children had made since joining it.
It did however have a high "contextual value added" (CVA) score, indicating how much progress the children had made since joining it.
Its CVA of 1041 - the measure is centred on 1000 - put it in the top 5% of schools nationally.
Its CVA of 1041 - the measure is centred on 1000 - put it in the top 5% of schools nationally.
Sixth form progress
Sixth form progress
Independent schools also appear to do badly - because increasingly they choose to enter their pupils for International GCSEs (IGCSEs) in English and maths.
Independent schools also appear to do badly - because increasingly they choose to enter their pupils for International GCSEs (IGCSEs) in English and maths.
These are not accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority so do not count in the government's tables.
These are not accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority so do not count in the government's tables.
The results this year include a new indicator showing what percentage of pupils attained the equivalent of A*-C in one full modern foreign language GCSE. Nationally the average was 30.7%.
The results this year include a new indicator showing what percentage of pupils attained the equivalent of A*-C in one full modern foreign language GCSE. Nationally the average was 30.7%.
The biggest innovation in the tables is the introduction of a post-16 CVA measure, for sixth forms and colleges.
The biggest innovation in the tables is the introduction of a post-16 CVA measure, for sixth forms and colleges.
This is calculated differently from the one at GCSE-level and does not take into account such things as deprivation and ethnicity.
This is calculated differently from the one at GCSE-level and does not take into account such things as deprivation and ethnicity.
At the top on 1102.7 was Hurtwood House, an independent school in Surrey, while students at at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Middlesbrough on Teesside were next with 1078.1.
At the top on 1102.7 was Hurtwood House, an independent school in Surrey, while students at at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Middlesbrough on Teesside were next with 1078.1.
On the more conventional A-level measure of average points per student, top this year - as last - was Colchester Royal Grammar School, Essex.
On the more conventional A-level measure of average points per student, top this year - as last - was Colchester Royal Grammar School, Essex.
Its students average 1359 points - the equivalent of more than five A grade A-levels.
Its students average 1359 points - the equivalent of more than five A grade A-levels.
Resources
Resources
The core GCSE results provoked a political argument.
The core GCSE results provoked a political argument.
The government has a target to increase the proportion achieving five A*-C grades (and equivalent), including GCSEs in both English and maths, to 53% by 2011.
The government has a target to increase the proportion achieving five A*-C grades (and equivalent), including GCSEs in both English and maths, to 53% by 2011.
England's Schools Secretary Ed Balls said this should be met.
England's Schools Secretary Ed Balls said this should be met.
"We always said that around a third of National Challenge schools were on track and the figures published today prove this point.
"We always said that around a third of National Challenge schools were on track and the figures published today prove this point.
"We now need to continue to concentrate on the remaining schools and ensure we are giving them the support and challenge they need to make sure no child is left behind.
"We now need to continue to concentrate on the remaining schools and ensure we are giving them the support and challenge they need to make sure no child is left behind.
"This is no time for excuses - I want every child to go to a good school and that means every school getting above 30%."
"This is no time for excuses - I want every child to go to a good school and that means every school getting above 30%."
'Double whammy'
'Double whammy'
But his Tory shadow Michael Gove said: "Sadly, too many children are still being educated at schools which the prime minister classes as 'failing', and the gap between richer and poorer schools is widening.
But his Tory shadow Michael Gove said: "Sadly, too many children are still being educated at schools which the prime minister classes as 'failing', and the gap between richer and poorer schools is widening.
"Ministers are failing to deliver their promises on education."
"Ministers are failing to deliver their promises on education."
Teachers' unions have repeated their opposition to the publication of schools' results and "absurd" targets.
Teachers' unions have repeated their opposition to the publication of schools' results and "absurd" targets.
Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, said: "Young people's success at GCSE is undermined by the double whammy of school league tables based both on the arbitrary thresholds of five A*-C GCSEs including maths and English and the arbitrary National Challenge floor target.
Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, said: "Young people's success at GCSE is undermined by the double whammy of school league tables based both on the arbitrary thresholds of five A*-C GCSEs including maths and English and the arbitrary National Challenge floor target.
"Very many young people and teachers will feel that their efforts have been belittled by these tables."
"Very many young people and teachers will feel that their efforts have been belittled by these tables."
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