PUPILS at Dr Challoner's Grammar School are celebrating after they were named among the best in the country for GCSE results.

The results countrywide, published yesterday by the Department for Education and Skills, also show Buckinghamshire to be the top education authority in the country for GCSEs.

Dr Challoner's, in Chesham Road, Amersham, entered 176 boys for GCSEs. The average points score per boy was 70.9, while 64.2 per cent of passes were at the two top grades.

Headteacher Mark Fenton, said lots of schools achieved the 100 per cent position for five grades A* to C, but the key marks were the average point score per boy and the A* and A results.

"I am delighted with the results and the boys and staff have worked well," he said.

Having boys' schools at the top this year appeared to have bucked the trend for girls to get all the highlights.

Dr Fenton said he was particularly pleased that five boys had achieved 11 A* grades. "This is the first time anyone in the school has got 11 A*s, so for five to do so is amazing," he said.

Marion Clayton, cabinet member for schools, said pupils and staff at all schools had done themselves proud.

"Yet again the hard work put in by our schools is demonstrated in their results," she said.

January 24, 2003 10:30