ABERGAVENNY'S King Henry VIII School saw 63 per cent of its students gaining five A* to C grades - an impressive 12 percent increase on the school's 2009 results.

Headteacher Nicholas Oaten said: "They're the best results in the recent history of the school by some margin."

At Monmouth Comprehensive, the number of pupils achieving five grade Cs and above stayed above 70 per cent for a second year, while Wyedean School saw more than 70 per cent of their pupils achieving five A* to C grades for the fifth consecutive year.

Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls saw 98.4 per cent of its girls achieving five A* to C grades - on a parr with last year's results - and 44 per cent were awarded A* or A grades in every subject.

This included Welsh Young Sailor of the year Hannah Tilley, 16, who gained nine A*s and one A and Ella Richards, 16, from Trellech, who was awarded 12 A*s.

Monmouth School recorded a 98.8 per cent A* to C pass rate, with 13 boys achieving 10 A*s or As.

The A* to C grade pass rate at Caldicot School was 63.5 percent, while students at Chepstow School were overjoyed as 77 percent of the pupils achieved five A* to C grades.

Elsewhere Chepstow twins Jamie and Hannah Thompson, 16, celebrated A* and A grades at Christ College in Brecon.

Across Monmouthshire, 65.5 percent of entries were awarded C or above, which was 2.7 percent up on last year's figure of 62.8 percent.