With its first set of GCSE results The City Academy, Hackney takes first place in the school performance tables for pupil progress and Value Added released today.*

* top mixed comprehensive. 2nd including faith schools

• Best mixed comprehensive school in the country for pupil progress and Value Added

• 2nd best school nationally for pupil progress overall (including faith schools)

• 2nd best school nationally for Value Added – progress of disadvantaged students

• 81% achieved 5 or more A* - C grades including English and maths, 20% above the national average

• 88% achieved 5 or more A* - C grades overall

• 65% achieved the English Baccalaureate

• 30% achieved 5 or more A*- A grades

Following on from The City Academy Hackney’s stunning first set of GCSE results in August which saw 81% of students achieved 5 or more A*- C grades (including English and maths) - more than 20% above the national average - the academy has been ranked the second best nationally and the top school in London for pupil progress and Value Added in the schools performance tables released today by the Department for Education.

Since opening in 2009 the academy has achieved two ‘Outstanding’ grades from Ofsted, which were “the first of many important milestones” says Mark Emmerson, Principal of The City Academy, Hackney.

“At the end of the day it’s all about student progress, ensuring every student makes outstanding progress and achieves their very best.”

“We have a motto at The City Academy, Hackney: Values and Success,” remarks Mr. Emmerson. “It embodies our belief that good values and hard work are the building blocks of real and lasting accomplishment. Our students have embraced these values; they are a fine group of well-mannered, kind and industrious young people who will go on to great things. These results are a fair and true reflection of the efforts and abilities of our students and, of course, the huge investment made by their families, our staff and our sponsors.”

“In 2012 we were judged by Ofsted to be ‘Outstanding’ in every category and this recognition, while welcome, was of course only a judgement on our work as teachers. The most important thing is the actual achievements of our students. In this regard, I am so proud of our first cohort of students; they have led the way from day one. These statistics show the extent of the progress of this year group in their time at the school. In particular the extent and range of A/A* passes and the progress statistics are exceptional.”

In addition to the headline figure of 5 good GCSE grades, 65% of students also achieved the English Baccalaureate (an arguably more rigorous measure of exam results with students obtaining an A*- C grade in English, maths, science, geography or history and a modern foreign language). The City Academy, Hackney serves two of the most deprived wards in Hackney; has a high proportion of students from ethnic minority backgrounds with English as a second language; a third of students with special educational needs; and most students join the school with below average levels of attainment - all of which we are led to believe should limit these students’ attainment - and yet the academy’s first cohort achieved English Baccalaureate results more than three times better than the national average.

As noted by Ofsted, five years ago - on the site of what was deemed to be a failing school - the founding team of teachers and the academy’s joint sponsors, KPMG and the City of London Corporation, “provided the early vision and direction for the academy.” Five years on and they “remain fully committed to the achievement and well-being of students.”

Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Education Board of the academy’s sponsors, the City of London Corporation and governor for The City Academy, Hackney, said:

“These fantastic results are testament to what can be achieved by expecting the best from young people and giving them the tools to achieve it. They are also the product of the high quality teaching and commitment of the head teacher and staff. We are very proud of the academy and our students. The new sixth form has got off to a great start and without doubt many of the pupils will go onto secure places at top universities."

The City Academy, Hackney’s sixth form opened in September, extending its outstanding educational provision to post-16.