This is Leicestershire --GCSE exam results in the city and county are up from last year.
About half the schools in the city improved on their 2012 results, with 53 per cent of all pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – an increase of 1.5 per cent.
In the county, the figure was 60 per cent – an increase of three per cent.
Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant mayor for schools at Leicester City Council, said: "Once again, we've seen a rise in pass rates across the city and this is very good news.
"There have been some particularly stunning increases at some schools, including Judgemeadow and Moat, where results have greatly improved on last year's performance.
"It's also really good to see sustained improvement at Hamilton.
"We have confidence in all of our secondary schools and know they have worked hard."
Many schools were well over the Government benchmark of 40 per cent.
At Moat Community College, in Highfields, 57 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – up from 41 per cent in 2012.
However, Leicester's top performing school was *Judgemeadow Community College,* in Evington, where the grades were achieved by 71 per cent of pupils – up from 65 per cent. Judgemeadow head teacher Rob Summers said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's down to the hard work of staff and students and we couldn't be more pleased."
*Sir Jonathan North Community College*, in Knighton, achieved the second best results, with 68 per cent of pupils gaining the top grades – up one percent on last year.
However, at least five city schools reported a decline in results, with two failing to achieve the Government benchmark.
*Babington Community College,* in Beaumont Leys, and *The Samworth Enterprise Academy,* off Saffron Lane, had figures of 37 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.
Results from *New College,* in New Parks, and *Fullhurst Community College,* in Braunstone, were not made available to the Mercury yesterday.
All but a handful of Leicestershire's schools had improved.
*Beauchamp College,* in Oadby, was the county's best performing school, with 80 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – up six per cent on 2012.
Head teacher Hugh Howe said: "This is wonderful news. I'm so pleased and happy for the hard-working students, dedicated and inspirational staff and the parents and school community who have supported us. These are the best results ever."
*Longslade Community College,* in Birstall, showed a massive increase, with 60 per cent of students achieving the top grades – up from 39 per cent.
Interim head teacher Kirstie Black, who was drafted in from *Melton Vale Post-16 Centre *in April to help improve results, was delighted with the figure.
She said: "It's no exaggeration to say these are amazing – the best ever. This is something to celebrate."
Long Field Academy, in Melton, also notched up its best ever results, with 67 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – up 19 per cent.
Vice-principal Ben Solly said: "These are in contrast to a dip in GCSE results nationally and we anticipate they put us among the most improved schools in Leicestershire."
*Wreake Valley Academy,*in Syston, currently rated inadequate by Ofsted, improved its results with a rise from 51 per cent to 59 per cent.
Councillor Ivan Ould, county council spokesman for children and young people, said: "Provisional figures suggest the number of teenagers securing the Government's benchmark has increased. Students, head teachers, parents and staff should be very proud." Reported by This is 2 hours ago.