WILMSLOW High School chalked up its best ever GCSE results this year.

And new government league tables released this week have put Wilmslow High in the top echelon of schools in Cheshire.

To celebrate, pupils from the school's most successful year ever came together again for a prize giving ceremony.

Head teacher Roy Lyons toasted the school's record breakers and predicted a bright future ahead.

He said: "As always it is a delight to celebrate the achievements of our students and this evening has had so many achievements to recognise.

"Ninety eight per cent of our students gained qualifications and I am equally proud of all their successes.

"Most of our students are now in our sixth form studying for a wide range of AS courses and we wish all our students every success in the future."

Among the most impressive performances was Emily Newman and Nicola Macdonald, who achieved some of the best marks in the country.

Emily scored one of the top ten marks in the country for Geography while Nicola finished ahead of almost 79,000 entries to get her top five mark in Double Science.

But the two whiz kids were not alone. More than two thirds of pupils achieved five or more GCSE A to C grades, compared to a national average of 50 per cent and a county average of 56 per cent.

This year's marks make Wilmslow High one of the top performing comprehensive schools in Cheshire, which is a county rated among the top ten education authorities in the country.

Councillor David Rowlands, education chairman for Cheshire County Council, said: "It has been another excellent year for education in Cheshire.

"The authority was rated among England's top ten by Ofsted and our secondary school results have lived up to high expectations."

Alderley Edge School for Girls also achieved impressive results in only its second year after merger with Mount Carmel and St Hilary's.

Results at the independent school improved slightly from last year with 89 per cent of pupils gaining five A to C grades at GCSE.