COUNTY education chiefs have hailed the achievements of secondary school pupils as results for GCSEs point to another record-breaking year in Kent.

Kent County Council said its analysis suggested around 65 per cent of pupils had passed five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, representing a three per cent increase on the results for 2006 and above the national average of 63.3 per cent.

The results mean an uninterrupted decade of classroom standards across the county, with pupil performance improving year on year since 1995.

Cllr Chris Wells (Con) KCC cabinet member for Children, Families and Education said he was delighted.

"We are very pleased with the results, which have improved every year since 1995. Kent County Council is committed to giving everyone the best possible start in life and will continue to invest in education and the future of our young people.

"Although the focus is on the students, I would like to add my thanks to all the teachers in Kent who, through their dedication and skills, have taught and inspired their students."

He refused to be drawn on complaints by some that exams had become easier and that employers were concerned at levels of literacy and numeracy.

"It is not the time to have that debate. Young people can only pass the hurdles that are put in front of them and it would be curmudgeonly to start that debate when children are rightly celebrating what they have achieved."

There were notable improvements at a number of the county’s non-selective schools. At Canterbury High School, results went up form 59 per cent to 72 per cent for passes at grades A* to C and five students achieved 15 GCSEs at A*-C.

And at Montgomery School in Canterbury, which has in previous years been one of the poorest performing schools in Kent, there was a 30 per cent increase in pupils passing five or more GCSEs at grades A to C.

Significant gains were also made by a number of schools in the proportion of pupils achieving 5 A*-C including English and mathematics.

Mascalls School, Paddock Wood increased performance by 26 per cent; The Abbey School, Faversham by 16 per cent and Dartford Technology College by 15 per cent.

League tables now measure standards on the basis of passes that include these subjects, partly in response to criticism that some schools were entering pupils for 'easier' subjects.

The official government league tables will be published in the Autumn.