Latest figures have shown GCSE results in Swindon have continued to drop, despite strong performances at a number of schools.

Local statistics show the number of students last academic year who gained A* to C grades, including English and Maths, fell to 52 per cent, down from 56 per cent two years earlier.

As a result the town is in the bottom quarter of regions across the country.

In total, seven schools had a decline in their GCSE results with one, not named in the figures, falling below the government’s 40 per cent threshold.

The top performing school was Lydiard Park Academy, at which 67 per cent received five A* to C Grades.

Principal Clive Zimmerman believes while there is no quick-fix solution in Swindon, closer working between schools could help.

He said: “It is a case that schools which are not doing so well could look at others which are doing better.

“There is no magic bullet which will solve everything. What we did at Lydiard Park over many years was a result of going root and branch through the school to see what we could do better.

“One of the problems is most of the schools are now academies which stand on their own. Some have struggled as they don’t have a network of support.

“If the schools work more closely together then those networks can be created.”

Following the announcement of the figures, there have been calls for more support to be given to those schools which are falling behind.

Councillor Carol Shelley (Lab, Gorsehill and Pinehurst) said: “Clearly the decline in good GCSE results is very worrying for Swindon and shows that the government’s education reforms haven’t been helpful in Swindon.

“Given that so many of Swindon’s schools are now academies, which are not under the auspices of the local authority, Swindon’s MPs need to be challenging the Department for Education to get Swindon schools the necessary support to bring them back up to at least the national average.

“What I’d like to see Swindon Council do is be an advocate for Swindon’s schools to get the resources they need from government to improve results.”

However, council chiefs have hit back saying, while they accept the results have been poor, support is being offered.

“It’s a shame Labour have not been paying attention as they would know we have established the Education Strategy Board,” said the cabinet member in charge of children’s services Fionuala Foley (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn).

“This is chaired by the regional school commissioner and participation from the schools is very good.

“We know the results have not been what we would want but we, and every headteacher is working hard to fix this.”

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “We have seen the introduction off the Pupil Premium, secured the two new Free Schools and made significant progress on reversing Labours shameful unfair school funding formula.

“I trust Swindon Labour will stand up to their national colleagues who continue to fight against fairer funding plans.”