A CHARD school is 'delighted' after new league tables ranked them as the second best in the county.

Holyrood Academy had the second best Progress 8 score in Somerset, with 0.43.

The national average is -0.03 and the Somerset average is -0.12.

Matt Collins, head of school at Holyrood Academy said: "Once again, Holyrood Academy is celebrating fantastic GCSE results.

"Our students have worked extremely hard and we are so proud to see them achieve their best, this year’s results demonstrate the commitment of the students and their excellent teachers.

"A new curriculum with new grading systems in English and Mathematics means that students have been awarded grades from 9 to 1, with grade 4 being regarded as a standard pass and grade 5 being a good pass.

"We are delighted to report that in both English and Mathematics 60% of students secured a strong pass (grade 5 or better) and 70% of students secured a standard pass (grade 4 or better) in both English and maths."

As well as the second best Progress 8 score in the county, Holyrood is in the top 5 academies for Attainment 8 score, and above national and Somerset averages for: Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs, Achieving EBacc at grade 5/C or above, and Entering EBacc.

Mr Collins added: "Most pleasing of all is that students at Holyrood Academy achieved a progress 8 figure of +0.43 which is amongst the very best results in the South West.

"This figure represents almost half a grade above that expected as an average across every student in the year group and a wide range of their qualifications.”