This is what Swindon's other headteachers had to say about the secondary schools performance tables.

David Williams, headteacher of Kingsdown School, above, said: "We are very proud of the achievements of our students. It is a pleasure to run an outstanding school like Kingsdown. If one looks at the league tables we are fourth out of ten for Swindon schools GCSE attainment. But we are first for some way it seems for value for key stage two to key stage four. However the main thing is to celebrate student success and if was left to me I would copy Wales and Scotland and get rid of league tables."

Len Spiers, headteacher of Bradon Forest School, above, said: "We were delighted that the high standards of the last few years have been maintained and developed. This success is due to the hard work and dedication of students and staff teaching and support. This year's success includes many students who gained more than ten passes at A* and A and well over 50 per cent of the year group had at least eight and more passes at A*-C."

Andrew Fleet, headteacher of Hreod Parkway School said: "These results represent a continuation of the rising trend of achievement at Hreod Parkway and very good personal achievement for many of our students. We are pleased with this and especially proud that one of our students, Michelle Steers, was named by the examination board amongst the top ten achievers in business studies in English and Wales."

Kevin Tansley, headteacher of Crowdys Hill School, said:

"We are delighted that our value added at both key stages three and four is so good. We are especially pleased that 92 per cent of our youngsters have achieved at least a GCSE or an entry level qualification.

Pupils and staff are to be congratulated for all their efforts."

Keith Defter, headteacher of Commonweal School, said: "Following last year's best ever results we were pleased to have consolidated our exam performance this year at both key stages to ensure that our three year rising trend continues. As well as many excellent individual and subject performances Key Stage four results were also notable for the fact that boys outperformed girls for the first time ever."

Peter Wells, headteacher of St Joseph's School, above, said: "Over the past four years, since 2001, not only have students at St Joseph's exceeded the national averages every year but they have improved performance at nearly three times the national rate. The reasons why we have been so successful can be seen in the fact that St Joseph's, with its wide catchment area, reflects the true picture of Swindon, we work hard, the students attend school and do not truant."

Lesley Griffiths, associate principal at Swindon College, said: "2004 was a very successful year for Swindon College. Once again our A-level pass rate was above the national average and we had 100 per cent pass rates in now fewer than 15 subjects. The college takes a very wide range of students and those who came to us with excellent GCSEs obtain high A-level pass grades."

Scott Sissons, headteacher of Dorcan Technology College, above, said: "Dorcan had a variable set of GCSE and GNVQ examination results in 2004. While the headline 5A*-C figure was disappointing the number of students across the school achieving five GCSE grades was 88 per cent and virtually all students gained at least one GCSE, 97 per cent.

There was also a large increase in the numbers of students achieving the higher A* and A grades at GCSE."