THE headteacher of Chester’s Queen’s School has hit out after the school was knocked off the top spot in Government league tables on “a technicality”.

Catherine Buckley is annoyed the leading independent girls school has been ranked at number 51 out of all secondary schools in Cheshire in terms of its GCSE results – or second from bottom – just above Blacon Young People’s Project.

However, Queen’s was ranked at number one in Cheshire with respect to its A-level results.

The problem arises because the league table indicates no passes in GCSE maths as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority does not recognise the new International GCSE maths qualification taken by the girls, even though Mrs Buckley considers it more challenging.

She said: “It is very frustrating that our girls’ superb achievements in mathematics are not acknowledged in the Government’s own league tables.

“With 35% of independent schools now taking iGCSE maths, there has been considerable lobbying for the exam to be recognised. As yet, this is falling on deaf ears. As they stand, the tables are woefully misleading and do not serve the purpose for which they were designed – providing accurate information to parents about performance.”

Head of mathematics Ian Armstrong said: “We chose to move to the iGCSE last year because we felt that it was a better exam for our girls and would stretch and challenge them more. The girls were very successful and 50% of the year have gone on to study maths at A-level, so it was clearly the right exam for them.”

The school’s results last summer were outstanding, with 74% of GCSE papers being awarded A* or A and with more than 85% of students achieving grades A or B at A-level.

Coming top of the league table in terms of GCSE results was The King’s School, Macclesfield while The King’s School Chester came in at number two.

Headmaster Chris Ramsey, whose pupils will take the iGCSE in maths for the first time this summer, said of this year’s league table results: “We are delighted. This is a testament to the hard work of the pupils and staff. These are boys who are also involved with music, drama and sport and who, as well as excelling academically, are also winning national football and hockey competitions.”

Mr Ramsey understands the dilemma faced by the QCA in not recognising the new iGCSE, saying it’s different to the normal GCSE.

“They are apples and pears,” he said. “I don’t think you could say one is more difficult than the other.”

Meanwhile, The Hammond School, Chester is upset a mistake in the way its GCSE results were compiled in the league table saw it ranked at number 42 in the county when its real position should have been about 12th.