15733/6TENSION filled the corridors at schools across west Wiltshire as this year's GCSE results were finally unveiled.

Amid claims of easier exams and an escalating gap between the sexes, students across west Wiltshire were revelling in some of the highest pass rates ever seen.

To buck the national trend west Wiltshire's top performer was male, with Matthew Holl, 16, from Kingdown Community School in Warminster notching up nine A* and one A grade.

Staff at St Augustine's Catholic College, in Trowbridge, were celebrating historic results with 85 per cent of students achieving five passes at grades A* to C.

Once again a boy emerged as the school's top performer with Luke Mather earning seven A* and two A grade passes.

Headteacher Brendan Wall said: "I am delighted for the students, the parents and the staff whose dedication and commitment have helped us follow on from the A-level successes of last week."

Pupils at The John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge, achieved notable

successes with Abigail Rose earning eight A* and three A grades.

The school's five A* to C grade pass rate was 53 per cent.

Warminster schools fared well with both Kingdown and Warminster School achieving their best ever GSCE results.

Kingdown saw 62 per cent of pupils earning five GCSE's at A* to C grades.

Headteacher Sheelagh Brown said: "I am absolutely delighted for the kids who have worked hard. We have high expectations which are getting higher."

Warminster School saw 85 per cent of pupils achieve five passes at the top four grades with 32.6 per cent of passes at A* or A.

Headteacher David Dowdles said: "I am particularly delighted with the record A* and A grade pass rate, which at 32.6 per cent is almost double the national average."

Students at Stonar School, Atworth, continued to deliver high standards with 91 per cent of GCSE entrants earning the required five passes at A* to C grade, and 33 per cent of passes at the top two grades.

But it was not good news all

round with George Ward School, Melksham, achieving results 23 per cent below the national average.

Only 36 per cent of pupils achieved five GCSE passes at A8 to C, compared to a national average of 59.2 per cent.

Headteacher Dr Pam Stoate said: "This result was below our forecast figure revealing a dip in the strong upward trend of the last two years."

At Matravers School, Westbury, headteacher Nigel Gilhespy said staff were "slightly disappointed" not to have followed up their best ever A-level showing with record GCSE grades.

But with 49 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C grades or better, the school was only just below its 50 percent target.

Mr Gilhespy said: "A significant number of students exceeded their own and our expectations of them so we have reason to be pleased with the overall performance."

One of the school's top three performers Beccy Carter celebrated her haul of six A* and three A grades while on holiday in Spain.

Speaking from the continent, she said: "I thought maybe I had got two or three A*s but when my mum texted me with the news I couldn't believe it."