A GIRLS' schools has scooped top marks in the latest Government figures which saw each GCSE candidate average the equivalent of more than ten A grades.

The statistics were released as part of the GCSE and equivalent achievement and attainment tables and the post-16 tables for 2004, which include A levels, by the Department for Education and Skills.

Pam Barber, head teacher of Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, paid tribute to the school's extensive extra-curricular programme which made school "a fun place to be" and made pupils more motivated, which rubbed off on their academic achievements.

She said the results did not come as a surprise: "We work very hard and for the last few years we do seem to have been getting better and better. Our GCSE results are exceptional."

Government GCSE statistics showed that only a handful of schools in South Lakeland did not outperform the county and national averages. In the tables, each exam pass is awarded a certain number of points, which are added up then divided by the number of students to give an average total point score for every pupil in each school.

The achievements of pupils at Kendal's Queen Katherine and Kirkbie Kendal schools were closely comparable, with an average total point of 353.9 in the former case, and 350.4 in the latter.

The Lakes School, at Troutbeck Bridge, slightly outperformed the Kendal schools, with an average of 364.9 points per pupil. The county average was 345.

At A level and equivalent, all-girls Casterton School had an average point score per exam entry of 98.9, the highest in Cumbria, where 100 points is a B grade at A level, and 80 a C.

That means that, on average, every student in every subject got a very comfortable C.

In Furness, Barrow Sixth Form College had an average tally of 92.6 while, in North Yorkshire, Settle College averaged 74.9 points per entry.

Casterton head teacher Tony Thomas put his pupils' success down to the school's single-sex status, hard work and a positive attitude.

Cumbria county councillor Joan Stocker, cabinet member for education, said: "GCSE results have improved by over two percentage points. I am delighted that Cumbria's performance is keeping pace with national comparisons."

She added: "A level results have also improved this year. Five per cent more students have achieved the results they need to secure the university place or career to which they aspire."

Cumbria GCE & VCE results
Lancashire GCE & VCE results
North Yorkshire GCE & VCE results
Cumbria Cohort Information and Results for students aged 15 at start of the school year
Lancashire Cohort Information and Results for students aged 15 at start of the school year
North Yorkshire Cohort Information and Results for students aged 15 at start of the school year