Foreword by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment

Our White Paper Excellence in Schools launched a national crusade to raise standards in education.

To monitor progress and help schools set targets for improvement we need better information on school performance. That is why we promised to supplement the data in secondary school tables with information on the rate of improvement schools have made.

In these tables you can see clearly which schools have, since 1994, increased the proportion of their pupils achieving at least one GCSE or GNVQ equivalent and the proportion gaining five or more GCSEs or GNVQ equivalents at A*-C grade.

Successful and improving schools can be found in every part of the country. These tables celebrate their achievements, and the hard work of countless pupils, teachers and parents.

From next year we shall introduce extra indicators which will give an even clearer picture of how schools are performing - "value-added" measures which show the progress pupils have made over the years.

I hope you will find these tables interesting in themselves, and helpful when talking to your child's school or thinking about which school he or she might attend after leaving primary or middle school.

A separate set of "16-18" tables includes information on Further Education sector colleges, and all secondary schools with pupils in that age group.

You can order further copies of any of the tables by ringing 0800 24 23 22.

Excellence in Schools launched a new partnership for change. I ask you to join with us in raising standards and opening up opportunities for all our children.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

Secretary of State for Education and Employment