A CHELMSFORD school - whose closure was announced last year - has produced the worst GCSE results in the country.

St Peter’s College which will close its doors in August 2011 was the worst performing school with only eight per cent of its pupils getting five GCSEs at Grade C and above including maths and English. The government benchmark is 30 per cent.

In 2008 the figure for the school - although still below 30 - was 26 per cent.

The news has hit the school hard which is having to cope with the impending closure and headteacher Kulvinder Cheema admitted the announcement that the school was closing “didn’t help.”

But he has said that the school will work hard over the next two years to see an improvement.

Mr Cheema said in a statement: “St Peter’s College is committed to ensuring that all students have the best education possible and recent improvements have been acknowledged by Ofsted.

“However in order to maximise their potential many students follow courses and work placements in which they gain qualifications which are not necessarily seen as GCSE equivalents but prepare them appropriately for future employment.

“The 2009 results reflect the large percentage who undertook these alternative courses and we are pleased for them and their success.”

Mr Cheema pointed out that out of the 108 students in the year cohort, 93 per cent are employed in education, employment, training or apprenticeships.

St Peter’s was put into special measures from September 2005 to March 2007. Recent results had seen an improvement but the school in Fox Crescent has 452 pupils - less than half of its capacity of 1030.

Mr Cheema added: “The positive Ofsted inspection and Local Authority inspection in November 2009 of St Peter’s College shows the strengths of the school and the progress we have made; the issue is simply one of student numbers.

“Meanwhile we must remember that St Peter’s College continues until 2011 and everyone is committed to make sure that all of our students have the best education possible.”