A SCHOOL which takes pupils from Devizes and Chippenham has been placed twelfth out of 500 specialist colleges in the country in a national report.

St Augustine's Catholic College in Trowbridge was recognised for its 'Added Value' in a report comparing non-selective specialist schools and other comprehensive and secondary schools.

Last year 64 per cent of pupils taking GCSE were expected to achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C but, in fact, 88 per cent did.

Head teacher, Brendan Wall, said: "I am delighted for the staff and pupils who have worked together tirelessly to improve performance, which has led to being recognised as one of the leading schools in the country.

"The report shows that the college is not selective and that no matter what the ability of the pupils in our care is, the hard work by all concerned, together with the Christian ethos, aids the development of pupils who achieve beyond their estimated grades."