KIRK Balk Academy students have secured the school’s best ever GCSE results this year - despite the introduction of tough new exams.

English and maths have changed to a numerical grading system, with a score of up to nine which surpasses the traditional top A* grade.

It is now harder to achieve pass grades in those subjects but despite standards increasing, pupils have done better than ever before.

Seventy five per cent of students overall achieved a pass in English, with 68 per cent achieving the same in maths.

Both scores represent a good improvement on last year’s equivalent passes at grades A*-C.

The results are the academy’s best and could improve further because some papers will be re-marked.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle