BRAINY pupils in Gloucestershire have proved themselves to be among the smartest in the county.

Gloucestershire was the top performing county of its size and second in the south west for pupils achieving five GCSEs at A*-C, including English and Maths in last summer’s exams.

Gloucestershire is also in the top 25 per cent of local authorities in the country with 62.3 per cent of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths, compared with 58.4 per cent nationally.

Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for education and skills Cllr Jackie Hall (Con, Quedgeley) said she was pleased by the results.

“I would like to congratulate all the young people on their results,” she said. “These results are a testament to all the hard work of pupils and staff.”