Secondary schools across Nottinghamshire have been praised for gaining GCSE results above the national average.

A total of 58 per cent of pupils got five or more GCSEs with A* to C grades in 2014 — the national average was 53.4%.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s chairman of children and young people’s services, Coun John Peck, said: “Across
England this year, there has been unprecedented turbulence with exam results in schools of all types, serving all areas, showing large falls.

“Significant changes have been made to the system of assessment. In spite of this, however, Nottinghamshire schools have again performed beyond the national average and widened the gap between ourselves and the performance achieved nationally and by similar authorities.

“This is a most commendable set of results and I congratulate the young people, their schools and parents.”

In 2013, 63.4% of pupils gained the standard, compared to the national average of 59.2%.

Last year, the county’s schools also beat the national average for English Baccalaureate (22.9%) with 25.3%.