SOUTHAMPTON schools are celebrating after achieving the best-ever city results in this year's GCSE exams.

Four of the city's top students have been honoured with crystal trophies for posting results in the top five of marks scored by any student in the country.

Southampton saw a significant improvement in the number of pupils leaving school with five or more GCSEs at A* to C grades.

This year the number of pupils who achieved the benchmark figure in the city's maintained secondary schools rose to 44.1 per cent.

The future looks bright as well, with more 14-year-olds gaining the expected level five in English, maths and science.

Some 60.8 per cent achieved level five in English, 60.2 per cent got level five in maths while 59.4 per cent gained level five in science.

The four pupils who beat competition from tens of thousands of students across the country to come within the top five for individual examinations were Ashlene Knight from Oaklands Community School for English Literature GCSE, Neil O'Brien from Bitterne Park School for GCSE Business Studies, Rosalind Bulmer from St Anne's Convent School for Religious education GCSE, and Fang Fei Gao from St Anne's Convent School for A-level mathematics.

The pupils, their families and teachers were invited to a special ceremony in The Mayor's Parlour on Tuesday.

Cabinet member for lifelong learning Councillor Richard Harris said: "I am delighted that yet again the achievements of Southampton students are improving.

"This is a tribute to the hard work of the pupils and the efforts of their teachers and support staff.

It also reflects Southampton City Council's commitment to continually improve the standards of our children's education."