WILTSHIRE tables showing how schools performed in GCSEs in 2003 show many schools have made major improvements in their exam performance.

This year for the first time a Value Added score creates an extra dimension to the tables, showing not just how well pupils have performed, but how much the work of individual pupils has improved over the course of their schooling.

Bob Wolfson, Wiltshire County Council's director of the department for children, education and libraries, said: "I am delighted that young people in Wiltshire have again exceeded national averages in their GCSE performance.

"This reflects well on their hard work, the talent and commitment of their teachers and the support of those close to them. Given the already high performance, it is hard to make year on year improvements, although we anticipate that the introduction of more courses in vocationally oriented subjects will provide some youngsters with new opportunities to excel.

"I also welcome the introduction of value added measures that help schools to identify more clearly the expectations that young people should have for themselves at the age of 16.

"I am always reluctant to identify particular schools, as I know how well so many have done, but this year the increased percentage of pupils attaining five or more passes at grade C or above at both Corsham School and Stonehenge School, Amesbury, has been exceptional.

"My congratulations to all the young people and their schools on their deserved successes."

Hardenhuish School in Chippenham has achieved major improvements in its results, with 64 per cent of students gaining five or more GCSEs grade A to C last year the level was 56 per cent.

"It's our very highest percentage," said deputy head Jan Hatherell.

And what pleased her even more was the Value Added measure of 100.4.

"That is the most important thing for us," she said.

"Value Added shows the improvements made across the ability range, and we are enabling all pupils to get the very best GCSE results they can."

She said there was no quick fix solution when improving GCSE results.

She said the results came at the end of five years' work with the young people, with commitment from staff and pupils. Mrs Hatherell said they were also proud of their efforts to help children with special educational needs achieve the best they could.

Dr Patrick Hazlewood, head of St John's School in Marlborough, said his students' GCSE passes have finally reached the target of 70 per cent he set when he joined the school seven years ago.

For the first time in the history of the school, its fifth year students achieved a 70 per cent pass rate in five or more exams at grade A to C

St John's success rate has climbed with every set of new league tables published over the past seven years to the delight of its head.

In the statistics for A to G grades St John's scored 98 per cent, the second highest rate in the whole of Wiltshire, despite having three students credited with no success who were included although they were not in school and missed the exams.

Dr Hazlewood said the continuing improvement in GCSE results, following on from better than ever A level results earlier in the year, were testimony to the quality of teaching and the willingness of St John's students to learn.

He said: "We have done very well again this year and we are very pleased.

"For the last seven years we have been working towards this target of 70 per cent and we have achieved it this year." There will be no complacency, he confirmed, even though the target has been reached.

Dr Hazlewood and his staff now hope to see the GCSE A to C pass rate increase to 74 or 75 per cent over the next two to three years.

The St John's head put the success down to the school focussing on each student as an individual and getting the best out of each one. "We are trying continually to improve," he said.

Marcus Chapman, assistant head teacher at Corsham School, praised this year's results and said they were a testament to the hard work of staff and pupils.

"The GCSE results between A to C are up considerably on last year and our value added measurement is in the top ten per cent of schools," said Mr Chapman.

"The value added measure is perhaps the best way to compare schools, because it shows how pupils are improving as they learn," he added.

"Our A Level results have always been very high this year's A to C passes were at around 96-97 per cent, which is incredibly high and seeing our GCSEs improve significantly has been wonderful."