EDUCATION officials at Swindon Council have vowed to drive up results.

Hilary Pitts director of education, said: "We are proud of our young people and the successes they have achieved through their hard work and with the help of the teachers, support staff, parents, governors and councillors.

"There have been many successes. However, results remain below the English average.

"A priority for 2004 is to further improve our results and the rate of learning at both Key Stage 3 and 4."

The good news is that fewer left school with no GCSE passes than at any time since 2000.

In general the town's headteachers were pleased with their pupils' perform-ances.

Here are some of their views:

Dr Scott Sissons, head of Dorcan Technology College : "This is our best ever group of GCSE and GNVQ results, with our largest ever year group and represents very good performance indeed, compared to similar schools nationally.

"It is a genuine reflection of the successful hard work and effort of both students and staff."

Keith Defter, head of Commonweal: "In terms of attainment, the 2003 results represent our best-ever performance, both at Key Stage 3 and 4. We are very pleased that our focus on strategies to improve teach-ing and learning at KS4 has had a positive impact, partic-ularly on boys, whose overall performance improved over 16 per cent."

Peter Wells, head of St Joseph's : " Pupils achieved the best results in the school's history.

"Two students were in the top five nationally in English literature and religious education.

"St Joseph's results con-tinue to be ahead of their time reflecting real added value to the efforts of all our pupils.

"This year's A-level results were equally good with 99.5 per cent of students achieving passes in their chosen subjects, improving point scores by individual students and successful placements at colleges and universities."

John Saunders, head of Highworth Warneford: "Once again the GCSE examinations results were pleasing, reflecting the hard work of pupils and staff as well as the support of parents and governors. The new value added measure is particularly encouraging."

Len Spiers, head of Bradon Forest, Purton: "The proportion of A* and A grades is up, with more than 30 students gaining these grades in more than five subjects. A large number of students achieved well above their expected grades, despite arriving at the school with below average scores, and a significant number gaining five or more A* to C grades.

Jinna Male, head of St. Luke's special school: "The most important measure is the value added score, as this shows the progress pupils have made.

"Once again, I am really pleased with the excellent results of our pupils, part-icularly in mathematics, where every pupil in the year group gained a pass at GCSE level."

Elizabeth Cooper, head of Ridgeway School: "Our rising results reflect students' efforts, the dedication of our staff and support from parents. We are pleased with the value added which has been gained at GCSE and in Key Stage 3.

"Much-needed funding for science specialist status is now helping us offer further challenge and opportunity."

Mike Hopkins, principal of Swindon College: "We were delighted with our 97 per cent A-level pass rate, which was two per cent above the national rate, and with our 100 per cent pass rate in 20 subjects.

"Students who come to us with good GCSE grades tend to get very good results but the students who come with average or below average grades also do well."

Nicky Barton, head of Headlands: "The GCSE results for 2003 show a continuing trend for increased numbers of our students gaining 5 A* to C grades.

"I am looking forward to even greater improvements in standards as a result of the LEA and DfES supported collaborative re-start in September 2004."

David Williams, head of Kingsdown: "The percentage of students who gained 5 A*-C in 2003 was the highest in the school's history.

"And what has given us an equal or even greater sense of achievement is that our value added results from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 were so outstanding."