A SUSTAINED improvement in GCSE results at Okehampton College over the past three years has earned it a place in the top 50 most improved schools in the country.

The percentage of students gaining five or more A* to C passes at GCSE including English and maths has gone up from 38% in 2006 to 62% in 2009 — which is well over the national average. Okehampton is number 40 on the list.

The pass rate as a whole in Devon rose by 2.3%, from 49.5% in 2008 to 51.8% in 2009. with Devon's schools now sitting 64th out of 151 local authorities.

College vice principal Derrick Brett said the school was very pleased with the news.

He said: 'We have basically focused on a strategy to improve students' attainment at Key Stage 4 by working on targets they need to achieve, giving advice and introducing a mentoring programme.

'Pupils who need the most support are given a mentor to work with and have at least one meeting a month with their mentor.

'There is also additional help and guidance from other staff in terms of exam preparation and coursework.'

He said the improvements were also down to the students at the college, who 'embraced education' and were a pleasure to teach: 'They are a contributing factor in the excellent results we have had over the past few years and we hope it will continue.'

Devon County Council's cabinet minister for schools and skills Christine Cannon said she was delighted with the impressive increases in Devon's schools and paid tribute to the students, their families and staff but she added there was no room for complacency.

She said: 'We all need to be at the top of our game and continue to raise our aspirations to ensure our children, individually, are well placed to do the best they can and collectively that Devon is ready to meet the serious global challenges of the 21st century.

'It is particularly worthy of note that our schools continue to do well despite Devon being one of the worst funded authorities in the country per pupil.

'The latest Government figures show Devon is 148th out of 151 local authorities for education funding — the worst in the South West — which is why we continue to campaign for fair funding for our schools.'

She said Devon did not want special treatment.

'We just want to be treated equally. But at the moment every pupil in every school in Devon is deemed to be worth £375 less than the national average.'