A STRONG focus on a range of qualifications has been credited with helping an East Oxford school secure top position in a league table.

Sixth form pupils at St Gregory the Great Catholic School, in Cricket Road, scored a third of a grade better on average than expected compared to the national average in the past school year.

It means the school's 'progress score' – which covers A-Levels and other 16-18 qualifications – is the highest in Oxfordshire.

It also places the school 106th out of more than 3,000 nationally.

Vice-principal Dr Rodger Caseby said he was delighted.

He said: "We are very pleased. I am proud. It is because we have a real comprehensive intake to our sixth form for A-Levels and other courses such as BTECs.

"That also means we are taking some students that other schools would not take so we are really delighted."

The school chalked up another success as students retaking GCSE English while in the sixth form improved by a whole grade on average – higher than the national average.

At St Gregory's 65 per cent of students who retook GCSE English got grades at A* to C, compared to only 20 per cent nationally.

Dr Caseby said: "The other thing is that the number of students from here remaining in education after sixth-form is five per cent higher than the Oxfordshire average, as 95 per cent of our pupils stay.

"The other five per cent are usually those who go abroad and go travelling, so that is also a good figure for us."

The school's place in the top 150 in the country is another success for education in Oxfordshire after The Oxford Academy was ranked as the 14th-best in England for progress at GCSE level.

Dr Caseby said: "To come 106th out of more than 3,000 schools really isn't bad going.

"Not only are we the top state school in Oxfordshire but we are also ahead of a lot of the independent schools as well."

The school was followed in the rankings by Bartholomew School in Eynsham, with the next-highest school in Oxford The Cherwell School.

Dr Caseby said: "It's a real testament to the hard work of all our pupils and our staff and it's great to see that hard work reflected in the results."

The school's sixth-form has more than 200 students studying for level two and level three qualifications.