SOMERSET'S secondary schools have made all-round improvements in their GCSE results this year, with a number of schools achieving their best results ever.

The news comes as the Government publishes all General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results for schools across the country. This year's results show that a higher proportion of Somerset's pupils have achieved five or more grades A* - C in GCSEs, including Mathematics and English, than the national average. The rate of improvement is also higher in Somerset.

The schools achieving their best results ever include Chilton Trinity in Bridgwater, Frome Community College and Holyrood Community School. The Castle School in Taunton also posted its best ever results, with 85 per cent of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at the highest grades. Two-thirds of Somerset's secondary schools improved their performance at GCSE compared with 2006, which was in itself an exceptional year in which 12 schools achieved their best GCSE results ever.

Further, a key measure of improvement is the progress made by pupils as they move from primary school to secondary school, calculated on the improvement pupils made on their Key Stage 2 scores (through national tests at age 11) compared with their GCSE results. The Government uses a range of contextual information to compare performance across the country and this year's results place a number of Somerset's secondary schools among the best nationally, including Castle School in Taunton, Sexey's School in Bruton, Court Fields Community School in Wellington, and Heathfield Community School near Taunton.

Judith Richardson, Somerset County Council's Head of Service for Schools and Achievement said: "A number of our schools have made substantial improvements this year and we congratulate them on their success. Overall improvements have been made however, and that could not be achieved without the commitment of headteachers and their staff and the hard work of pupils, supported by their parents. We are grateful for all their efforts. We are now working to ensure that services for children generally will impact on their achievements and further drive up standards and employment opportunities."

Councillor Gloria Cawood, Somerset County Council's Portfolio Holder for Education said "Somerset County Council are thrilled with these best ever results for Somerset, which reflect the hard work of children, governors and teachers across the county. It demonstrates that Somerset County Council's determination to raise standards is working."