THE Good Schools Guide has highlighted Chatham House Grammar at Ramsgate as one of the top performing schools in the UK for the second year running.

Using information supplied by the Department for Education and Skills, the guide analyses A level performances from summer exams and has awarded certificates to the schools it considers have displayed the greatest excellence in each subject for each qualification.

The latest award names Chatham House as having the best results in the summer 2005 exams at vocational double A level in Leisure and Recreation at any school in England.

David Burney, director of vocational and business education at Chatham House is delighted. He said: "This means that our two-year course is rated as the best of its kind in the country and it is an excellent achievement."

With the vocational course, 30 per cent of the marks are awarded on examination performance, and the remainder is through continual assessment.

Head teacher John Mathews said: "Leisure and recreation A levels are excellent qualifications to follow careers in subjects such as sports science, and we have strong links with Brunel, one of the top UK universities for sports studies, leisure and business courses.

"These are extremely competitive courses and without the vocational A levels in sport and leisure, our boys would not be accepted.

"The vocational exam passes are also excellent when students are considering employment, particularly with the development of the leisure and recreation professions in the UK.

"Vocational A levels have been recognised as essential in a Government commissioned report into the development of sixth form learning by top educationalist Mike Tomlinson. Every head teacher in the UK is in support of these courses."