THE perfect end to a splendid year was how staff at West Somerset Community College, in Minehead, greeted the news of another record set of exam results.

Some 95 per cent of students gained five or more GCSE passes at A-star to G grades, while 58.4 per cent of all passes were at grade C or above, up eight per cent on last year's performance.

Of the year 11 age group, 54 per cent achieved five or more passes at grades A-star to C - four per cent higher than the target set by the local education authority.

It was a similar story at Kingsmead Community School, in Wiveliscombe, where 98.3 per cent of pupils gained five or more passes and every single student came away with at least three passes.

Of those, 83 per cent achieved a grade C or above and 37 per cent obtained at least one A-star or A grade pass.

On an individual level, Rebecca Hewitt achieved nine A-star and five A grade passes, closely followed by Hannah Coad with nine A-star and four A grades.

Martin Crow gained five A-star and five As, Toni Bendall achieved seven A-star and two A grade passes, Rachel Turner gained four A-star and four As, while Sarah Bradnum gained three A-star and eight As.

Lianne Trendell came away with two A-star and seven A grade passes, Tamsin Trendell achieved one A-star and eight As and Daniel Fry gained one A-star and six A grade passes.

At the community college, 23 students achieved five or more A or A-star grades and ten achieved eight or more A or A-star grades.

Thomas Turner was the star performer with ten or more A and A-star passes.

Sarah Bruce, Christopher Ford, David Mounfield and Emma Sully each gained nine or more A and A-star passes, while Andrew Bryant, Katherine Fergusson, Jennifer Matravers, Elizabeth Stephens and Juliet Webber all gained eight or more A and A-star grades.

Pupils at both schools sat a number of exams a year early and achieved some notable successes.

Kingsmead headteacher Geoff Tinker said there had been "some outstanding performances" among those sitting exams early, but said the results would not become part of the school's exam statistics until next year.

Of this year's achievements he said: "I am delighted by the success of all our young people and, in particular, the fact that students across the whole ability range have done so well.

"Their examination success is down to hard work and dedication by the students, staff, governors and parents and we are proud that these students are leaving Kingsmead as articulate, confident and well qualified young people as they move on to the next stage in their lives."

It was the second year running that the community college had put a number of year ten students forward for their GCSE mathematics exam a year early.

Of the 96 sitting the exam, 24 per cent gained A-star or A grades, while 86 per cent passed at grade B or above.

The aim was to encourage more students to study mathematics at A Level, a move which seemed to have paid off as around 60 students were expected to study the subject at the college from September.

College principal Nick Swann said the "impressive" GCSE results were the best the college had ever achieved.

He said: "Staff at the college have worked hard to develop a range of teaching approaches to meet the individual needs of all learners and I would like to pay tribute to their dedication and commitment.

"Most of all, these excellent results are a reflection of the hard work of our students, many of whom will be starting their post 16 courses with us in September.

"These GCSE results, taken together with the successful A Level results published last week and the news of our designation as a technology college rounds off a splendid year for the college."