Early indications show that GCSE results in Liverpool have improved – with the number of pupils getting five good grades including English and maths now at 50 percent, up 0.1 percent on last year.

However it is a mixed picture across the city, with some schools making gains while others have done less well than last year.

Councillor Nick Small, Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Education, Employment and Skills said:

“Well done to our students for the hard work that they have put into their studies over the last couple of years, their teachers and their families for supporting them.

“Although we have made great strides in recent years, there is no doubt in my mind that we are not yet where we need to be if we are to ensure all pupils in the city are properly skilled to go on to apprenticeships, higher education and enter the world of work.

“We can and must do more, particularly around English and maths, which is why in September we are launching Liverpool Counts – a new partnership between business, schools, colleges and universities to put more emphasis on improving numeracy skills across the board.

“We’ve got a strong family of schools and colleges in Liverpool. We value that. Just as we must support our schools on the many things they’re getting right, we also must challenge them to do better where they need to be performing better.”