A PENSNETT school at the centre of a £200m radical revamp project has recorded the lowest GCSE results in the borough.

Pensnett High School has finished bottom of the borough class with just 17 per cent of students achieving five or more GCSE grades A* to C grades. But this is a two per cent increase on the previous year.

But the future looks brighter for the Tile House Lane School after it was announced last month it will be demolished and merge with The Crestwood School in Kingswinford under a £200m transformation of Dudley schools.

But a host of Dudley schools have recorded improvements in their GCSE's. Overall 56.9 per cent of students gained five or more GCSE grades A*- C compared with 55.8 per cent the previous year.

In Dudley, Holly Hall Maths and Computing College, also included in the £200m academy project, has risen from 31 per cent to this year's 46 per cent.

Ellowes Hall Sports College, Lower Gornal, goes up from 39 to 43 per cent and Bishop Milner Catholic School has become one of the borough's top performing schools including English and maths, scoring an increase from 64 to 68 per cent.

Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children's services, said: "I am delighted more children than ever have achieved five or more GCSE grades A* to C.

"This is the fifth year results have increased and standards have improved at borough schools.

"I would like to congratulate all the pupils and staff for all their hard work over the past year."

A-level and AS levels at borough colleges have also increased with the 2007 average point score of students at 733.8 up from the 2006 figure of 694.4, above the national average.

Parents of Pensnett School students and residents can have their say over the academy plans at a meeting at the Tiled House Lane school on Thursday January 24.

Residents will get the chance to quiz cllr Judy Foster and Headteacher Dr Sue Bains at the meeting which starts at 7pm.