Huw Lewis welcomed a rise in exam results for 15 and 17-year-olds and said secondary schools were responding well to the calls for improvement.
New government statistics show a record all-time high of 52.7 per cent of 15-year-olds achieving the Level 2 threshold, including a GCSE grade A* to C in English or Welsh first language and mathematics in 2012/13.
This is 1.6 percentage points higher than 2011/12, the biggest year-on-year increase since 2010/11.
According to the data, 17-year-olds in Wales continue to perform well in A level and equivalent qualifications, with 96.5 per cent of those entering the equivalent to two A levels achieving the Level 3 threshold.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here