THE angels were smiling on Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School as it achieved some of its best GCSE results to date.

The school in St Michael's Road, South Ham, had 77 per cent of its pupils achieving the benchmark five A* to C grades including English and maths, a nine-point improvement on last year.

And 86 per cent of the 132 Year 11 pupils achieved A* to C in any subject.

Headteacher Anthony Corish said the results were "right up there with the best years" and he paid tribute to the students and staff.

Deputy headteacher Andy Bazen added: "These fantastic outcomes are testament to the students' hard work, determination and self-belief."

Five students at the school achieved at least eight A*s.

Vivian Keung, 16, from Riverdene, bagged nine A*s as well as an A and a B. Her grades were added to an A* and an A she won last year.

"I am so happy," she said. "I was shocked, the results were so much better than I thought."

Another successful youngster was Jimmy Simons from Eastrop who bagged two A*s, three As and a B.

For most of his time at secondary school he has studied from home or hospital while fighting an incredibly rare form of cancer.