ONE of the region’s fastest improving schools has secured record results for the third time in the past four years since new management transformed its fortunes.
Darlington School of Mathematics and Science is fast becoming the school of choice for parents and students after benefiting from a £3m makeover and complete overhaul of the curriculum, including the introduction of radical teaching methods using IT.
In 2010 the school faced a bleak future with the benchmark A*-C pass rate, including maths and English, languishing around the 30 per cent mark.
Since then the school has adopted completely new culture maximising the improvements in new technology and using DNA associated with the independent school sector.
The results is a current pass rate of 55 per cent, a 20 per cent increase, and a record number of students going on to study at Darlington College and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.
Head teacher Calvin Kipling said: “The exam success is testament to hard work and innovative thinking. It vindicates the tireless efforts of staff and pupils and we are thrilled that so many parents and students are choosing to come to join what is becoming a dynamic seat of learning.”
Last year’s head boy James Allison led from the front by becoming the school’s most accomplished student with two A*s, 7As and two Bs.
He said: “I am really pleased with the results and looking forward to going to college.”
The U17 Mowden Park rugby player hopes to convert his results into an engineering degree after attending Queen Elizabeth 6th form college to study A levels in maths, further maths, physics and history.
Chairman of governors Dr David Hall said: “A great deal of hard work by staff and students has resulted in some fabulous results. These results show that this school is getting better every year.”
