A WINCHESTER school has been ranked as the top in the county for pupil progress after revealing "stunning" exam results.

Provisional Progress 8 results, which indicate how much progress a student has made at school, showed that The Westgate School, based in Cheriton Road, was highest among Hampshire state schools.

The overall result of 0.49 also means that pupils at The Westgate School earned half a grade more during their GCSEs than the national average.

Fae Dean, head teacher at The Westgate School, said: "We are very proud of pupils at The Westgate who achieved a stunning set of examination results in 2017.

"Our achievements are a result of the strong partnerships we have with pupils and parents that make for a thriving learning community. We are privileged to be working so closely with our local primary schools, meaning that pupils joining The Westgate have an excellent foundation of learning upon which to build."

The provisional Progress 8 figures showed that 32% of pupils achieved a grade 7 to 9 in maths compared with only 19% nationally, and in English 61% of pupils achieved these higher grades compared with 16% nationally.

Mrs Dean added: "The Progress 8 score shows that all pupils do very well in our school and whilst we are celebrating the achievements of our most confident learners, we are equally delighted that 96% of pupils leave our school having secured a grade 4-9 in English, and 85% leave with a grade 4-9 in maths. This is crucial in terms of future life chances.

"Whilst we are delighted, we are not complacent. The new GCSEs are placing greater pressure on pupils and we are mindful to balance our high aspirations with the central issue of wellbeing.

"Hopefully, these strong results will instil confidence in young people that they can, and will, achieve these new standards.

"Congratulations to last year’s Year 11 pupils and their families and thank you to all the members of the community who have contributed to this achievement."