THE latest exam league table has seen a shake-up of school places, with Ellowes Hall Sports College now in the top three in the Dudley borough for its GCSE results.

In 2011 76 per cent of pupils at the Stickley Lane school achieved a pass rate of five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths – a huge 10 per cent increase from last year’s results and way ahead of the local authority average of 58.5 and England average of 58.9.

Only Stourbridge’s Oldswinford Hospital school and Redhill came above.

The Lower Gornal school,which also features in the national 200 top most improved schools list, also recorded the highest figure in the borough for achievement in English, where 93 per cent of its pupils were making ‘expected progress’ in the key subject, although the percentage of children achieving in maths was lower at 70 per cent.

Headteacher, Andy Griffiths, said:“I am very proud of these results. We have talented staff and students here and these results are a tribute to their hard work and dedication. “Our appearance in the top 200 most improved schools is also for the fourth year running, and I don’t think there is any other school in the country which has done this.”

However Bishop Milner Catholic School, which last year featured in the top five schools in the borough, has slipped down the table to number eight, following a significant drop in performance.

In the latest table, the Burton Road school managed a 60 per cent pass rate over the last year, compared to 69 per cent in 2010.

Meanwhile progress was recorded at Dormston, which achieved a pass rate of 57 per cent, Holly Hall achieved 51 per cent and Castle High which scored 46 per cent.

Although High Arcal’s pass rate fell two per cent to 50 per cent and Hillcrest’s fell one per cent to 54 per cent.

The borough’s worst performing school was The Coseley School where just 43 per cent of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C.

Despite a drop in GCSE result pass rates, Bishop Milner Catholic School fared better with its A-level results.

The sixth form recorded a 99 per cent pass rate for two A-levels while 84 per cent gained three or more.

Dudley College performed the least in comparison to Stourbridge and Halesowen Colleges.

The college, which is currently building new facilities in the town centre achieved an 86 per cent pass rate for two A-levels, while 62 per cent achieved three or more.

Stourbridge College’s figures were 94 per cent and 75 per cent respectively, while Halesowen students achieved 88 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.