BOYS at a North-East school bucked the national trend yesterday when they surpassed female classmates in their GCSE results.

About 41 per cent of male pupils at Blackfyne Comprehensive School, near Consett, County Durham, achieved five or more A-C grades. Only 36 per cent of girls managed the same success.

Headteacher John Brierley called it a massive improvement. It follows a report by the Office of Standards in Education (OfSted), criticising the school's success rates in teaching males.

"After our Ofsted inspection in May, one of the issues raised was underachievement of boys," said Mr Brierley. "It is pleasing to see that it was not borne out by the exam results this year."

The success is the result of a major drive at the school to revive male teenagers' interest in their education.

"All departments were asked to address improving boys' performance and we have been successful," said Mr Brierley.

The two top achievers at the school were also boys. Neil Williamson scored three A stars, six As and a B. Christopher Ogle scored three A stars, five As and two Bs.

Overall, the school saw a ten-point improvement on last year's pass rate, a rise from 28 to 38 per cent.