TWO local schools were today named among the top 100 for how much they improve children in their care.Hobart High School in Loddon and Bungay High School were ranked 38th and 55th respectively based on the contextual value-added measure, which shows how much children's performance is boosted between 11 and 14.

TWO local schools were today named among the top 100 for how much they improve children in their care.

Hobart High School in Loddon and Bungay High School were ranked 38th and 55th respectively based on the contextual value-added measure, which shows how much children's performance is boosted between 11 and 14.

The value-added measure takes into account the “context” of the school, including the number of youngsters with special educational needs and the relative deprivation of the surrounding area.

Whilst headteachers remain largely opposed to the school league tables, saying they do not accurately reflect how well a school has done with the students it has, the contextual value-added measure is more popular as it is designed to redress the balance.

It is an impressive achievement for the two schools, and places them amongst seven other East Anglian Schools ranked with the best in England. Hobart High is one of six Norfolk schools in the table, whilst Bungay High is the only Suffolk school present.

Hobart High headteacher John Robson said: “I am surprised and delighted.

“We knew our young people had done well but we didn't know how well they had done compared with the rest of the country. It demonstrates how hard the kids work, how hard the staff work, and the support that we get from the vast majority of parents.”

He added: “It is a real thrill. I am really pleased with what we have done as a school.

“I always say to parents, if they get their kids to come here every day then they will do better than they think, and this demonstrates that that is true.”

Deputy headteacher at Bungay High, Catherine Wiltshire, said: “We're delighted to know that our school is in the top 100. It just shows how much we and our partner middle schools improve the performance of young people in our care. The figures show that our students work very hard and they show that we enjoy the support of parents.”

The actual figures for contextual value-added measure from age 11 to age 14 at the local schools were 102 for Hobart High, 101.8 for Bungay High's, and 101.4 for the Sir John Leman High School at Beccles.