Somerset finished seventh out of the 16 south west education authorities when overall league tables were published recently.

Pauline Clarke, executive portfolio holder for lifelong learning, said: "I am extremely pleased with the overall performance. Many schools have shown improvement in the performance of pupils in all levels of ability.

"It is very satisfying to see an increasing number of pupils leaving with good results, which is a tribute to the hard work going on in Somerset schools."

On the key measure of the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grade GCSEs, Somerset registered 54.6 per cent.

Schools within The Clarion Advertiser's catchment area had results as follows: Park School, Yeovil (76%), Stanchester, Stoke, (60%), Wadham, Crewkerne, (58%), Holyrood, Chard, (56%), Westfield, Yeovil, (56%), Preston, Yeovil, (54%) and Buckler's Mead, Yeovil, (50%).