The pass rate for reporters sitting the National Certificate Examination has risen to 53pc in the final such exam to be sat before a new qualification comes in.

Results published by the National Council for the Training of Journalists today show that 56 journalists out of 106 passed the four sections of the exam to become seniors, with the pass rate reaching its highest level since March 2011.

It compares to a pass rate of 43pc at the last results from the July exams, and one of 52pc in November last year.

The new National Qualification in Journalism, to be launched in March, will continue to be divided into four parts, with the logbook, news interview and news report remaining along with a newly-created media law and practice paper which will include a compulsory question on ethics.

Chief examiner Steve Nelson said: “This will be the biggest change in a generation, focusing more sharply on the law and ethics.

“In part, the new exam reflects concerns over ethics in journalism, but it also puts more emphasis on social media and has an improved structure. I am confident that the changes, which are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, will be met with universal approval by both editors and trainees.”

The pass rate for each section of the July exam was 60pc for newspaper practice, 56pc for news report, 58pc for news interview and 100pc for logbook.

Two journalists have also passed the NCE for Sports Reporters out of four candidates who sat the exam in November, which consists of four parts.

Chief examiner Dave King highlighted how few of the candidates had prepared specifically for the exam and instead tackled it with an “eyes wide open approach”.

There were also two candidates sitting the NCE for Press Photographers and Photojournalists and both passed all five sections to gain senior status.

Chief examiner Steve Phillips said: “The overall performance of candidates was good with some very good work submitted.”

The full list of those who passed the exam is as follows:

Ruth Aiken, News Guardian
Sam Bannister, The News, Portsmouth
Steven Bell, Westmorland Gazette
Michael Broomhead, Derbyshire Times
Clare Buchanan, Surrey Comet
Jamie Bullen, Gravesend Messenger
Christopher Michael Burn, Shropshire Star
Gareth Burton, Maldon and Burnham Standard
Katie Butler, Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express
Chris Caulfield, Surrey Herald
David Churchill    Croydon Advertiser
Rebecca Helen Cole, The Leader
Robert Cooke, Dewsbury Reporter
Joel Cooper, North Devon Journal
Joe Curtis, Guardian Series Newspapers
Jon Dean, Islington Gazette
Laura Dew, Portfolio Publishing
James Drummond, Essex Chronicle
Max Evans, Freelance Journalist
Catherine Ferris, Shropshire Star
Greg Fountain, Packet Newspapers
James Franklin, Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury
Sian Gordon, Henley Standard
Edward Grover, Lincolnshire Echo
Lisa Herbert, Annandale Observer
Andrew Hirst, Skegness Standard
Christopher Michael Hogg, Northcliffe Digital
Alistair Kleebauer, Ilford Recorder
Charlotte Lowe, Cornish Guardian
Adam Luke, Cambridge News
Paul Michael Lynch, Ripley and Heanor News
Hannah Masters-Waage, Bracknell News
Faye McBride, Essex Chronicle
Toby Meyjes, The Cornishman
Crispin Northey, The Citizen, Gloucester
Benjamin John O’Connell, Northumberland Gazette
David O’Neill, Hemel Hempstead Gazette
Natalie Marie O’Neill, Hendon Times Group
Lauren Potts, Pontefract and Castleford Express
Aban Quaynor, Halifax Evening Courier
Kevin Quinn, Midlothian Advertiser
Timothy Ridgway, The Argus
Alexander James Ross, Blackpool Gazette
Stephen Scott, Maidenhead Advertiser
Dominic Shaw, Hartlepool Mail
David Shepherd, Mid-Devon Gazette
Amy Louise Smith, Diss Express
Kay Taylor, Chorley and Leyland Guardian
Alexander James Therrien, Worthing Herald
Jenny Thomson, Western Gazette
Alain Tolhurst, Sidmouth Herald
Alex Townley, Redditch Advertiser
Luke Tugby, Southern Daily Echo
Tessa Watkins, Reading Chronicle
Ian Weinfass, Romford Recorder
Hannah White, Salisbury Journal Newspapers
Sophie Megan Wyllie, Eastern Daily Press

Sports Reporters

Howard Lloyd, Express & Echo
Jack Wilson, Dover Express and Folkestone Herald

Press Photographers and Photojournalists

James Dadzitis, South West News Agency Ltd
Alicia Field, Reading Chronicle