WHILE the 2009 GCSE league tables, released last month by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, come under criticism for inaccuracy, schools in the Alton area have maintained their position at or near the top of the tree.

Nationally, the results revealed that some pupils gained worse grades in English and maths at 16 than in comparable exams sat at the age of 11 and that too many comprehensive schools are failing to properly cater for the need of bright pupils in mixed ability classes and that languages are in decline.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.