PUPILS in Wiltshire are performing above the national average in their GCSEs, according to figures released by the Department for Education today.

Their results are 3.3 per cent above the national figure of 53.4 per cent. Overall in Wiltshire, 56.7 per cent of students obtained the benchmark level of five or more A*-C grades at GCSE including maths and English.

Nationally results are down and headteachers are blaming the decision made by ministers at the DfE to only include pupils’ first attempts at a qualification, rather than better results achieved following re-sits.

However, St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, which has achieved a ranking of fourth in the county for its GCSE results, said the change has not had a significant impact on its students.

Fiona Hand, deputy head teacher, said she was delighted with the results in which 76 per cent of the pupils achieved the benchmark.

She added: “I think despite the turbulence around the result tables, it’s fantastic. They have done brilliantly. ”

Sixty-three per cent of students achieved the benchmark at Kingdown School in Warminster, giving it a county ranking of 10.

Deputy headteacher Dave Locke said: “We are very proud of how they have done.

“The results compared with last year are lower but obviously the criteria has changed and that is what gets published by the Government but it’s not the best for students.”

At Matravers in Westbury 48 per cent of students achieved the benchmark, giving it a ranking of 23.

Headteacher Dr Simon Riding said: “I think schools were pretty clear these changes were coming up.

“We have a very strong curriculum which has supported high value qualifications, as a result we have had very little impact on the tables.”

Elsewhere in the county, Melksham Oak Community School ranked 17 with 56 per cent of the students gaining the benchmark grades; St Augustine’s Catholic College came eigthth with 69 per cent, Clarendon in Trowbridge came 21st with 49 per cent, and John of Gaunt in Trowbridge came 25th with 45 per cent.