RESULTS for schools in Gateshead showed an improvement in the number of children gaining five or more GCSE passes at grades A to C.

The average was 41 per cent of pupils gaining five or more top grades, compared to 37.2 per cent last year.

At Whickham School, 54.5 per cent of pupils scored top grades; 85 per cent at St Thomas More Catholic School; 21.4 per cent at Thomas Hepburn Community School; 54.8 per cent at Ryton Comprehensive School and 61.9 per cent at Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School.

At Heworth Grange Comprehensive School, 31.1 per cent achieved top grades; 19.4 per cent at Hookergate School; 28 per cent at Joseph Swan School; 15.4 per cent at Kingsmeadow Community Comprehensive School, and 21.5 per cent at St Edmund Campion Roman Catholic School.

Brian Edwards, Gateshead Borough Council's director of education said: "These results are most encouraging. It is down to the dedication of our teachers and pupils that once again the average for the LEA has risen significantly.

"This is also good news as we have reached our LEA target of 41 per cent overall as well."