Bristol off bottom of GCSE table

New figures obtained by the BBC show that Bristol has moved off the bottom of the national GCSE league table.

The results show the city has moved up to second from the bottom after results in Greenwich fell by several points year-on-year.

Almost 44% of the city's state pupils got five good GCSEs not including English and Maths, compared with the national average of just below 60%.

Barbara Janke, leader of the Bristol City Council, praised the achievement.

"This is a really important step forward for Bristol schools and education service, she said.

"The year-on-year increase in performance at GCSE is more than three times the national average and the best we have seen in the city's recent history.

"There's a new determination amongst all in our education service and in our schools to build on the progress made this year and that promises much for future years."

About a third of students got five good GCSEs including Maths and English, putting Bristol above several other English cities when results are measured in this way.