The headmaster of John Masefield High School in Ledbury has praised students for their solid block of GCSE results, following the school's finest ever A'Level performance last week.

Andy Evans said GCSE students matched last year's results, with 55 per cent achieving five or more A-C grades, an identical proportion to the last two years.

Mr Evans said: "Many youngsters did extremely well and we're looking forward to many of the students, around half of the 144 pupils in the year group, returning to the school as sixth formers in September."

But Mr Evans said, good as the GCSE results are, they could still be better in following years, with a higher proportion achieving the higher grades.

He said: "From my point of view, we are not far enough over the national average."

GCSE results at Newent Community School were well above the national average.

A total of 62 per cent of candidates achieved grades A-C and headteacher Delia Paveling said she was really pleased.

In vocational art and design, 93 per cent of pupils achieved grades A-C, compared with 75 per cent last year, and for fine arts, the figure was 91 per cent.

Mrs Paveling said: "This confirms our arts college status."

Three students received letters from the examining board, confirming that marks in a particular subject were among the top five that year.

Joseph Haywood received a letter for his A* at French, as did Rachel Hunt, who achieved ten A* full GCSEs in total.

The other letter was sent to Stephanie Smith, for her A* performance in art and design.