WARRINGTON is today the region’s top performing local authority.

The GCSE figures show 59.8% of students are leaving school with five or more A*-C grades including English and maths. This is well above the national average of 49.8%.

The authority has also out-performed in the number of students gaining five or more A*-C grades with a huge 77.4%.

Both figures are an improvement on last year’s 53.3% and 71.6% respectively.

Pinaki Ghoshal, head of improvement and inclusion at Warrington borough Council, said: “GSCE results in the town once again improved last year, and we are now one of the most highly achieving boroughs in the country.

“I and all my colleagues here at the council are pleased that these results indicate that Warrington continues to be a place where all of our young people receive an extremely high quality of education. Our young people should be justly proud of their excellent results.”

The newly-formed Cheshire West and Chester authority also fared well, with results including English and maths rising above the national average.

They show 50.6% of students achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and maths. This is above the national average of 49.8%.

While 68.2% gained five or more good A*-C grades, slightly below the national average of 70%.

Cllr Arthur Harada, executive member, children’s services, said: “We congratulate all those pupils and teachers who have worked so hard to achieve these results. I can assure parents that their support is absolutely vital and we will give continued backing to all schools in an attempt to raise standards even further.”

For full Warrington league tables - click here

For full Cheshire league table - click here