SCHOOLS in Darlington have been ranked best to worst in terms of 2018 GCSE results.

Figures released by the Department of Education showed how schools in the town have been performing following last year’s changes to the way GCSEs are graded.

Darlington’s schools have been scored using the Attainment 8 system - an average combined score of eight key GCSE subjects, including English and Maths.

UK-wide, the average Attainment 8 score across state-funded secondary schools is 46.4.

The schools were also ranked in terms of Progress 8 scores, which measured the rate pupils have improved from Year 6 to when they take their GCSEs.

The average Progress 8 score UK-wide was -0.02.

Carmel College was this year’s top performing school, with an above-average Attainment 8 score of 56.5 and a Progress 8 score of 0.38.

It is one of three Darlington state-funded secondary schools to score above average in Attainment 8, followed by Hummersknott Academy and Hurworth School, and the only school in Darlington to have performed above average for Progress 8.

Mike Shorten, Principal of Carmel College said: “We are very pleased that students at Carmel College were so successful in the summer GCSE exams. It is testament to the hard work and determination of staff and students and goes to show the strength and depth of the curriculum offered.

“Achieving 123 grade nine results (double the national average) across 12 different subjects shows that the changes to the exam system, linear exams without coursework, increased and far more challenging content, didn't faze students at Carmel.

“The drive to develop the virtues for resilient and independent learners coupled with highly focused teachers has paid off. We are very pleased that we have maintained excellent results at Carmel College in a year when there has been so much turmoil in GCSE elsewhere.”

The worst performing school was Wyvern Academy with an Attainment 8 score of 34.4 and a Progress 8 score of -1.11

Wyvern Academy declined to comment.

Below is a list of Darlington state-funded schools and how they ranked in performance under the new GCSE grading system.

Darlington state-funded secondary schools ranked by Attainment 8:

Carmel College: 56.5

Hummersknott Academy: 51.1

Hurworth School: 50.6

Polam Hall School: 43.3

Haughton Academy: 42.6

Longfield Academy of Sport: 41.1

St Aidan’s Church of England Academy: 35.1

Wyvern Academy: 34.4

Darlington state-funded schools ranked by Progress 8:

Carmel College: 0.38

Hummersknott Academy: -0.02

Hurworth School: -0.08

Haughton Academy: -0.31

Longfield Academy of Sport: -0.51

Polam Hall School: -0.56

St Aidan’s Church of England Academy: -0.76

Wyvern Academy: -1.11