Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, welcomed news that more young people are achieving A*-C grades at GCSE. Greenwich Council last night released official figures for the borough which show a 3.1% increase from last year in pupils achieving the top grades at GCSE.

Nick says: ‘This year’s results show we are continuing to see the benefits of sustained extra investment in teachers and resources over the last twelve years.

The new secondary curriculum has given teachers flexibility to teach in a more relevant and engaging way for their pupils. I am also pleased that extra investment will be used to personalise learning and provide targeted support at pre-GCSE stage for those who are falling behind. The Government intends to intervene early with a guarantee of one-to-one tuition for children falling behind in the 3Rs.

I am concerned by Tory proposals to make 11 year olds who don’t make the grade repeat their final year of primary school. This will stigmatise children and lead to bigger classroom sizes. I am also alarmed by talks of cutting spending on children’s services and school budgets. This would mean fewer teachers, fewer classroom assistants, fewer resources and fewer apprenticeships.

All school leavers this summer should consider staying on in learning so they have extra skills for a job in the future – whether that’s at school, college, in training or an apprenticeship. Labour’s September Guarantee means that there will be a guaranteed place in education or training for every 16 and 17 year old so that more people can choose a path that suits their abilities and interests’.

From September, schools will be teaching new GCSEs in the majority of subjects, which have been revised to ensure they remain up-to-date, challenging, reliable and engaging for students. The changes – which reflect wide consultation with teachers, employers and universities – include replacing coursework with a new form of controlled assessment. New GCSEs in English, Maths and ICT incorporating functional skills will be introduced from September 2010.

This year’s results can be accesses on the Joint Council for Qualification’s website – www.jcq.org.uk. Young people worried about their exam results should call the National Exam Results Helpline on 0808 100 8000 or go to www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/OptionsAt16/index.htm