counterparts in the UK.

The principals at both Bermuda High School for Girls and Saltus Grammar School - the two schools on the Island that operate a GCSE curriculum -- reported their exam results were up on last year.

At Saltus, 72 percent of the grades this year were A* to C, compared to 63 percent in Britain. Last year's figure at Saltus was 70 percent.

The number of students in the final year who managed to attain five GCSE grade A* to C was 79 percent -- far higher than the average in the UK of 49 percent.

That figure improved nine percent on last year's average at Saltus.

Star pupil at Saltus was Ann Marwick, who came out with six GCSEs at grade A* and three As.

Alaina Cubbon, at Bermuda High School (BHS), did her family and teachers proud by obtaining seven exams at A* and one at grade A.

Only four percent of pupils in Britain manage to get an A* grade.

At BHS, 20 percent of results were A*, 27 percent were As and 22 percent were grade B.

In total, an impressive 92 percent of its results were graded A* to C.

Principal at BHS Roy Napier, who took up his post at the school at the end of August, said he was thrilled to have had such a good start.

He added: "These superb results are a testament to the high quality of the BHS experience.

"Our top students continue their education in prominent, highly selective schools in the UK, Canada, USA and in United World Colleges as well as in Bermuda.'' Speaking about his students performance, Saltus senior school head Paul Langman said: "We had exceptional performance in certain subjects, which is positive proof of good teaching.

"For instance, 95 percent of our students who took the chemistry examination achieved A* to C grades.

"In French, the figure was 87 percent, in design technology 86 percent, and, in three criticial subjects -- English, Economics and Physics -- the figure was 85 percent.

"Also, nearly one third of all grades in French and in Information Technology was A or A*. I particularly want to commend the teaching staff in those subjects for such fine results.'' He said it was apt that a female student came out top this summer as Saltus is celebrating the anniversary of its change to co-education.

He added: "I am delighted to note that our four top scorers are all female and that each of them has been with us at Saltus throughout their high school years.''