WILTSHIRE schools have reached challenging targets set by the eduction authority this year and are on course to reach targets for the year 2002 set by the Government.

Wiltshire County Council will continue to work closely with schools to keep ahead of the field and improve standards every year.

Chief education officer Bob Wolfson said he was delighted with the all-round performance of all Wiltshire schools.

Dr Pam Stoate, headteacher at George Ward School in Melksham, said she was more than happy with the record of her A-level students. "One of our aims is to make sure students achieve their potential throughout their sixth form studies. This year we had even more students coming back from the summer to go to sixth form. Our record is good," she said.

Sue Hopkinson, headteacher of Stonar School in Atworth said: "Our A-level results were the best we have ever had. Four girls had straight grade As and for the first time ever we had one student, Carris Jones, who won a music scholarship to Cambridge. What is a sure sign of our achievement is where the girls go on to after leaving us."

Headteacher Martin Williams of The Corsham School said he felt league tables were getting better in what information was now recorded.

He said: "The league tables are getting better as an indication. They are beginning to focus on improvements the schools are making as well.

"Our A-levels and GNVQs are up to their usual high standard, which is pleasing. When we had the Ofsted report it said the sixth form students had an excellent attitude and overall the good teaching in the school was particularly strong at A-level."

Headteacher of St Augustine's Catholic College Brendan Wall said: "We're very pleased with the results. We've done just as well as last year and we're really pleased with the improvement in the A-level results.

"We will continue to give a high standard of quality education to all of our students."

St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon came 171st in the Sunday Times' list of the top 250 secondary schools in the country. The rankings were determined by a combination of the results achieved by pupils at A-level and GCSE.

Headteacher Nicholas Sorensen said: "We are extremely proud of our academic achievements and that they have been reported in this way, but at the same time would not wish it to overshadow all the other marvellous things that we do as well, in particular, the value added to every child's education here."

He said the school's other achievements, like its specialist performing arts status, should also be recognised.