Students at City of York Council's schools are celebrating today after achieving record success in this year's GSCE examinations.

Education chiefs congratulated the city's students and teachers on the results, which show that a significant improvement in the percentage of children achieving five or more A*-C grades. 59.1 per cent of students scored the top grades this year - an increase of 2.7 per cent on last year - and in 5 of the city's schools, 70 per cent or more of pupils achieved 5+ A*-C results.

The results are well above last year's national average of 51.5 per cent confirming the quality and hard work of York schools.

Patrick Scott, the Council's Director of Education and Leisure said, "Yet again York schools have achieved an excellent set of results. It is a tribute to students, teachers, parents and all those have helped to achieve them. "At each school there are a number of success stories to tell, not just about young people who have achieved straight A grades but also about those who have achieved their GCSEs despite very difficult personal circumstances. The results at almost all schools have improved and many have had their best GCSE year ever."