A YORK head teacher was jubilant today after his school almost doubled its GCSE success rate in only seven years.

More than 45 per cent of Year 11 pupils at Burnholme Community College achieved five or more A*- C passes - compared with only 23 per cent in 1997.

Head Tony Gavin said there had been seven years of continuous improvement, thanks to a real determination to raise standards.

"This raises the standard for the future, and with strong year groups in current Year Nine and Ten, 50 per cent is within our grasp."

Schools across York were reporting bumper crops of results. Archbishop Holgate's said it had consolidated its position as one of the fastest improving schools nationwide, with results showing a third successive very strong improvement - a rise of 21 per cent since 2001.

Head teacher John Harris said: "It has for two consecutive years been in the national top 100 for improvement - last year's results saw it placed eighth in the country - and the 2004 results are expected to place it in the national top 100 for a third successive year." Bootham School said a record 15 candidates had gained ten or more A or A* grades.

Head teacher Ian Small said: "With nearly a quarter of the group getting top grades these are definitely results to be proud of."

A brother and sister, Chris and Emily Hoggett, who both attend the school, had particular reason to be proud.

After Chris notched up six grade As at A-level last week, his sister heard she had achieved nine A/A*s at GCSE. "Both are highly gifted musicians and have been enthusiastic performers in numerous concerts and recitals," said Mr Small.

At York's Mount School, 62 per cent of candidates achieved grades A* or A. Headmistress Diana Gant said the results were "absolutely super", with three students achieving some of the top French marks in the country.

Students at Huntington School recorded a massive improvement in results, with 80 per cent of the 263 candidates achieving A to C grades, compared to 73 per cent last year.

Head teacher Chris Bridge said it was a "fantastic effort by students, parents and staff".

"I am very pleased with these outstanding GCSE results, especially from our less able students," he said.

Nationwide, headline figures showed that the overall pass rate dropped again this year.

High-flying pupils celebrated strings of 11 or more A*-grades, but the overall pass rate dropped 0.1 per cent to 96.5 per cent when new job-related courses were taken into account, according to analysis conducted for PA News.

The A* to G-grade pass rate for traditional academic GCSEs stalled at 96.7 per cent and the gap between the best and worst performers widened, exam results showed.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, August 26, 2004