Major improvements at Coseley School ahead of 2017 closure

'Remarkable' GSCE results have been revealed from pupils at Coseley School, with a 16 per cent increase on 2015.

Councillor Star Anderton argued that Dudley Council 'did not give the school a chance to improve'.

The results, released on a school newsletter, reported that 47 per cent of pupils gained five A* to C grades including English and Maths. It stated the school was the second most improved in the Dudley borough.

Councillor Anderton, who has previously voiced her dismay at the closure, said: "I have always been against the closure of the school.

"The school had started to come back up and grades were getting better.

"Dudley Council didn't give the school a chance to show it had improved. It feels a lot like they just wanted to get rid of it.

"Parents were cross with the closure time given to the school of two years because they knew that the children were working incredibly hard.

"The grades were brilliant this time, which has to say a lot about the teachers and the children there."

Dudley Council agreed the closure of the school in May, with the doors set to shut for the last time by August 2017.

In September 2015 the school had just over 520 pupils - half of its 975 capacity, and last year's GCSE results placed it bottom of all borough secondary schools for five A*-C GCSEs including English and maths.

Angry parent Michaela Garbett, who led the campaign for the school to be saved earlier this year, said: "The results say it all.

"We knew this was going to be the case - hence why we asked for more time.

"In one year with the new head teacher just look at what has happened - the school has become the second most improved in the borough - it makes you wonder what could have happened in a few years.

"These are brilliant results. No other school had a 16 per cent increase."

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services, said: "Although the five A*-C figure is improved and welcomed, the measure of progress using the new national measures for Coseley is well below the national expectation. However, we are delighted to see the pupils at Coseley School making this progress in their GCSE results.

"The decision to close the school was taken in the interests of pupils and went beyond exam results, although this was a factor. It also included falling pupil numbers and serious financial concerns as well as a narrowing syllabus which did not offer the full range of subjects to pupils."

Phil Nicholls, assistant head at the school, said he was 'exceptionally proud' of the pupils despite what was 'looming'.

He added: "We kind of expected this and even in the light of the news we had the staff remained resolute and everyone stuck together.

"These results show that we were definitely a school that was on the up but sadly we were not allowed to continue that way.

"I am exceptionally proud of the children and the strength they have shown to achieve such results."