A SECONDARY school is celebrating after being named the best in the region.
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is the top state secondary in the North-East, according to The Sunday Times Parent Power guide.
The accolade comes after 40 per cent of GCSEs awarded to the school's pupils this year were either A* or As, while 73 per cent of A-level grades were A* to Bs.
Headteacher Michael Wardle said: “Our focus on academic stretch and highlighting subject content is key to the success of the students and the exceptional progress they made this year.
“All credit to the hard work and determination of our students to do their very best at school.
“As teachers we seek not only to spark the interest of our students, but also to stretch their intellect. Subject content and academic stretch is central to our ethos.
“Students of all abilities and backgrounds attained high standards. Social justice is one of our core values, and we are delighted to see all of our students doing so well.”
The guide named St Edward's Roman Catholic Primary School, in Middlesbrough, as the region's top state primary school.
Mary Brown, headteacher of the school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors, said: “It absolutely great. It is wonderful. It reflects the hard work and commitment of the staff and governors. I am not only proud of the school, but this achievement for Middlesbrough as a whole.”
The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, was the top independent secondary, followed by Yarm School which came second.
The Royal Grammar School was also the top independent prep school.
The rankings in the secondary school league tables are determined by the percentage of entries gaining A* to B grades at A-level this summer and the percentage of entries returning A* and A grades at GCSE.
In Yorkshire, Ripon Grammar School was named at the top state secondary. Skipton Girls' High School came second in the list.
An analysis of Key Stage 2 SAT outcomes at Level 5 from 2013 is used to rank state primary schools and independent preparatory schools.
The full guide will be published in print and online in The Sunday Times this Sunday, November 23.
The guide, which can be found at www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/parentpower covers the top 2,000 state and independent schools, searchable by postcode, town, local authority and name of school.
Top 10 state secondary schools in the North-East
Regional Rank School Town A-Level A8 - B (%) GCSE A8/A (%) 2014 National Rank 2013 National Rank 1 Durham Johnston Comprehensive School Durham 72.7 40.1 138 107 2 Emmanuel College, Tyne & Wear Gateshead 69.6 40.5 159 165 3 St Leonard's RC VA School, Durham Durham 73.2 32.1 162 207= 4 St Bede's RC School and Sixth Form College
Lanchester58.5 34.8 260= 358 5 Queen Elizabeth High School Hexham 56.7 33.9 286= 6 Carmel College, A Catholic Academy Darlington 53.9 34.3 312 7 Conyers School Stockton 52.9 31.0 343 412= 8 Egglescliffe School Stockton 51.4 33.1 349 297= 9 Sacred Heart High School Newcastle 48.4 32.8 374= 407 10 The King Edward VI School Morpeth 52.0 23.9 381= 361
Top 10 independent secondary schools in the North-East
Regional Rank School Town A-Level A8 - B (%) GCSE A8/A (%) 2014 National Rank 2013 National Rank 1 Royal Grammar School Newcastle 90.9 83.8 53 63 2 Yarm School Yarm 84.6 77.0 87 119 3 Newcastle High School For Girls Newcastle 78.2 72.9 127= 110 4 Durham High School For Girls Durham 74.2 67.0 178 178 5 Dame Allan's Girls' School Newcastle 65.9 77.0 208 222 6 Dame Allan's Boys School Newcastle 65.9 64.0 251 254= 7 Durham School Durham 67.3 38.4 315 382 8
Barnard CastleSchool Barnard Castle 58.5 39.1 350.1 375 9 Westfield School Newcastle 46.4 50.5 378 305= 10 Sunderland High School Sunderland 55.6 30.8 381 372
Top 10 state primary schools in the North-East
Regional Rank School Town Key Stage 2, Level 5 Maths (%) Key Stage 2, Level 5 English (%) 2014 National Rank 1 St Edward's RC Primary School Middlesbrough 82 78.67 33 2 St John Vianney RC Primary School Newcastle 87 71.00 50 3 St Benet's Roman Catholic Primary School
Chester-le-Street83 73.67 62 4 Clover Hill Community Primary School Newcastle 88 66.67 74 5 Fellside Community Primary School Newcastle 81 72.00 86 6 St Therese of Lisieux Primary School Stockton 76 76.67 91 7 St Peter's Roman Catholic School Gateshead 87 64.33 101 8 Junction Farm Primary School Stockton 77
71.00
141 9 St Oswald's RC Primary School Newcastle 83 64.67 143 10 Toft Hill Primary School
Bishop Auckland87 59.67 157
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