The results are in and it looks like Jewish schools are continuing to do well in both their A-Level and GCSE results, according to performance tables released last week.

In a year where national figures fell, with more state schools than ever failing to meet their targets, Jewish secondary schools recorded good marks. This is despite the fact that this year's tables ignored many vocational qualifications, and also discounted International GCSEs from its scoreboards.

In A-Level rankings, the top performing Jewish secondary school in England was Yavneh College in Borehamwood, which came 84th on the national league table. The school had an average score per pupil of 255.6 - the equivalent of an A-minus.

"We're delighted with the results," said Yavneh's head, Spencer Lewis. "We're very proud; the kids and staff all worked very hard. All the Jewish schools have done extremely well, which the community can be proud of, and we were top of the pile."

Seven schools in the community achieved an average B grade, including London-based institutions Menorah High in Brent, Immanuel College in Bushey, JFS in Kenton, JCoSS in Barnet, Menorah Grammar in Edgware and Hasmonean High in Hendon. Manchester's King David High School was the highest-scoring Jewish school outside of London, with an average point score of 243.8 - equivalent to a B.

In many cases, they outperformed their targets

JCoSS said it was particularly pleased with its results, given that this was the first year the school appeared on national rankings following its first batch of A-Level results last summer.

The school's head, Patrick Moriarty, revealed: "We are delighted that the 36 students who joined the JCoSS sixth form from other schools worked hard with their teachers to produce excellent results. In many cases, they out-performed their targets, particularly at the top of the ability range, and our value-added score reflects this.

"We are looking forward to taking this success into the next exciting phase of the school's history as our first cohort of students move into the sixth form, with a new and exciting range of A-Level and BTEC courses on offer to them and to students from other schools who join us."

At GCSE level, King David High School in Manchester ranked highly as the best Jewish school in England, with 92 per cent of its students achieving five or more GCSEs, including maths and English, at grade C or above.

"We are so pleased for the students who have worked so hard and for the teachers who give so much of their time to support them," said Joshua Rowe, chairman of the school.

Mr Rowe said the results highlighted the value of a state education. "We actually track the progress of kids who go to independent schools from our primary school compared to those who stay with us into secondary school and, child for child, we do at least as well as they do in the independent sector - and generally better," he said.

And while the national average for GCSEs was 53.4 per cent, other Jewish schools scored significantly higher, including JFS with a score of 77 per cent; Hasmonean with 82 per cent; and Yavneh College with 82 per cent.

Meanwhile, the newly released data revealed that more students are now taking the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) in English, maths, science, foreign languages and history or geography. This was visible among Jewish schools such as Hasmonean, which had 62 per cent of its students sitting the EBacc, and Menorah High, where 63 per cent sat the alternative exams.

The wealth of facts and figures, which are too detailed to be presented here in full, also scored schools based on their Ofsted inspection, disadvantaged pupils, academic progress, vocational attainment and pupil attendance. A school's work force, including its financial data, was also considered.

For more on this year's results:
Dropping IGCSEs is wrong, says head

The added value of a Jewish education

For full government figures, click here