DUDLEY borough schools are still top of the class in the Black Country - although they have slipped slightly in their average performance when compared to the year before.

Overall 53 per cent of pupils from the borough's schools gained five or more GCSE's at grades A* to C, including English and maths, which is 0.8 per cent below the national average and 0.3 per cent less than in 2014 - but still enough for Dudley to claim the top spot in the Black Country.

While 10 schools improved their exam ratings and one stayed the same, nine suffered a drop in performance.

They include Castle High School in St James's Rd, Dudley, which was down from 45 per cent to 35 per cent and The Crestwood School, Kingswinford, which dropped from 50 per cent to 36 per cent.

Michelle King, headteacher at Castle High, said: "We are disappointed with the results, despite many of our pupils receiving excellent results.

"We had made an improvement over the last four years, so in comparison this is one blip.

"We are making some changes to better match up courses to students' needs and look forward to celebrating success this year."

Wordsley Business and Enterprise and Music College slipped from 50 per cent to 45 per cent, Pedmore Technology College from 57 per cent to 46 per cent and Wollaston's Ridgewood High School from 62 per cent to 51 per cent.

Top of the pile in Dudley, however, was Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, where 81 per cent of pupils achieved good grade GCSEs - an improvement from 76 per cent in 2014.

Headmaster Paul Kilbride, described the school's performance as "outstanding", adding: “The school’s results were up five per cent on the previous year and we attribute this to the hard work and determination of students and staff. "

"The pupils are a credit to themselves, the school and their families.”

Just behind Old Swinford Hospital, in second place for the borough, was Summerhill School, Kingswinford, with a 70 per cent success rate, and Bishop Milner Catholic College in Dudley and Windsor High, Halesowen, were right behind on 69 per cent.

Redhill School, Stourbridge, was next on 67 per cent.

The Coseley School - where there is a controversial consultation over its future - brought up the rear of mainstream schools in the borough, in 20th place with 31 per cent, which was down from 36 per cent in 2014.

But the Holly Hall Academy, which was bottom of the pile last year, has picked up its performance from 33 per cent to 43 per cent.