A SMALL rural secondary is delighted to be the best school in Cumbria for pupil progress.

John Ruskin School is the top school in the county based on the provisional data released by the government. The Coniston secondary has a well above average Progress 8 score, which is also in the top five per cent nationally.

Progress 8 is the headline measure which reflects pupils’ progress between Key Stage Two in primary school and Key Stage Four at the end of secondary school, across eight key subjects. A score of zero reflects the national average. John Ruskin School has received the top rating of +0.73.

This year students took the new, tougher GCSE exams in English, English literature and maths. These are now graded from one to nine, where a nine represents the very top grade of a high A*. At John Ruskin School the proportion of students achieving a standard pass in English and maths - a grade four and above (C and above) was 78 per cent. The figure for those receiving a strong pass in English and maths - at grade five and above (C+/B) was 34 per cent.

Performance in English at John Ruskin has been consistently strong for a number of years. This year 48 per cent of students achieved a grade seven, eight or nine, (A or A*), another best for the county. There were 97 per cent of students also gained a grade four or better in the subject.

Deputy headteacher Ian Walker, the subject lead for English, said: ‘We’re really proud that the students made such fantastic progress. As an English department, we’re constantly looking at ways students can improve as readers and writers from Year Seven onwards. All staff at JRS, whatever their subject area, know that being an effective communicator is important - this no doubt has an impact on the English results as a whole."

Headteacher Peter Blackburn said: "John Ruskin School has always been recognised for the care and support it gives to its students. To now see that knowledge of every child increasingly translated into excellent GCSE results is a credit to the hard work of staff and students. This year we were delighted that all our Year 11 students were able to progress to the destination of their choice. The students have just been back in school as we celebrated our annual awards evening and it is such an inspiring experience for all the staff as they celebrate with students they have got to know so well over the years."

Mr Blackburn said GCSE results are not the full picture of a school. He said: "It is our vision, ethos and wider curriculum that develops students' ability to contribute to their communities and become effective citizens."

Cumbria County Council is investing more than £500,000 into the JRS facilities.