MORE than half the secondary schools in The Gazette area achieved higher than the national average in the GCSE league table results.

The tables – covering last year’s exam results – show that Lord Wandsworth College, which is an independent school, achieved the highest score in the whole of the county.

All 28 pupils taking the exams at the Long Sutton school achieved an A* to C grade in at least five subjects, including maths and English.

Nationally, 50.7 per cent of pupils gained the benchmark five GCSE’s between A* and C, including English and maths. In Hampshire, the average was 55.4 per cent.

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School in St Michael’s Road, South Ham, Basingstoke, had its best results in the last four years, with 72 per cent of pupils hitting the benchmark.

Head teacher Tony Corish said it had come as no surprise.

He added: “The results are improving year on year. I think it’s down to our ethos right through from uniform and behaviour to attitude and work.”

The tables also include a Value Added score, which shows the progress pupils make during their time at secondary school.

It takes into account factors such as pupils speaking English as a foreign language, those with special educational needs or children who are eligible for free school meals.

A score of 1,000 is considered average.

Testbourne Community College in Whitchurch gained one of the highest Value Added scores in Basingstoke with 1011.2.

The school also improved from previous years with 66 per cent of pupils achieving the pass rate benchmark.

Head teacher Hilary Jackson said: “They were the best results the school has ever had. We are delighted.”

Aldworth Science College in Western Way, South Ham, Basingstoke, also had a high Value Added score of 1,023.2.

However, the school’s exam results went down to 39 per cent attaining the benchmark, compared with 42 per cent in 2008.

Everest Community College in Oxford Way, Popley, Basingstoke, managed to pass the Government’s target for schools with a difficult history, with 30 per cent of pupils achieving five “good” GCSE results. Had the school not hit the target, its management might have been reviewed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

It was the best result the school has had in the last four years and was up from 25 per cent in 2008.

Other results: * At Robert May’s school in Odiham, 66 per cent of pupils gained the benchmark five GCSEs between A* and C, including English and maths.

* At Brighton Hill Community College in Basingstoke, 59 per cent of pupils achieved the same.

* Pupils at The Hurst Community College in Baughurst achieved 53 per cent.

* Pupils at The Clere School, in Burghclere, also achieved 53 per cent.

* Costello Technology College, in Basingstoke, had its best results in the last four years with 51 per cent of pupils achieving the key five GCSE’s between A* and C, including English and maths.

* Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, in Basingstoke, had a score of 44 per cent along with Fort Hill Community School, in Winklebury, Basingstoke.

* The Vyne Community School, in Basingstoke, saw 36 per cent of pupils hit the benchmark.