The figure places Blackpool second from the bottom nationally, according to new analysis by TutorSpace using Department for Education data. The report looked at the percentage of pupils in state-funded schools who achieved a standard pass, grade 4 or above, in the two core subjects. Other northern areas in the bottom ten included Stoke-on-Trent, Kingston upon Hull, Rochdale and St Helens. In contrast, just one northern authority, Trafford in Greater Manchester, featured among the top ten, ranking fourth with a pass rate of 79.2 per cent. "Greater London clearly performs extremely well in terms of GCSE results, with seven of the top ten areas most likely to pass being located here.