TWO STUDENTS from a Winchester school were among the top GCSE performers in the country.

The results for Westgate School pupils Poppy Koumis - in French and Media Studies - and Richard North - in French - were among the top five marks in England.

Overall 80 per cent of pupils at the school got five or more A*-C grades, while 28 per cent got As or A*s.

Meanwhile, 98 per cent of the school's pupils passed five or more subjects, including English and Maths.

Peter Jenner, Westgate School's headteacher, said: "We have got to be very pleased. We have gone up year on year to a very high level and we're now consolidating on that. We have actually had four years out of nine when the boys have outdone the girls. The gap this year is 5 per cent in favour of the girls, which is still well below the national average.

Mr Jenner added he was in favour of children coming to the school to collect their results. He said: "I think it's a very good occasion when they come and share their successes. Inevitably there's going to be some downloading (of results) in the future. I hope Westgate and other schools retain this culture."

Mr Jenner said the results were very similar to last year with just a one per cent increase in the number of pupils who attained an A* or A.