PUPILS at Nova Hreod Academy received a visit from south west England's regional schools commissioner to mark their improved GCSE results.

Sir David Carter was at the Akers Way school just weeks after pupils achieved record results in this year's exams, with the number of students achieving at least five A* to C grades including in English and maths increasing from 31 per cent to 60 per cent in a single year.

Sir David congratulated staff and pupils on their success, crowning the school as one of the best improved in the south west.

He said: “Students and staff at Nova Hreod have delivered some amazing GCSE results this year.

"This places the academy as one of the three most improved schools in the south west which is a brilliant achievement for everyone here.

“These are fantastic GCSE results. Not only are the headline figures excellent but when you dig down into the detail and see the progress that students are making here, it is outstanding.

"Nova Hreod is a quickly becoming a school whose success others will want to emulate and be inspired by.”

Sir David also welcomed those new teachers who were beginning their careers at Nova Hreod Academy.

“In my opinion, teaching is the best career in the world," he said.

"Brilliant schools are not just built on exam results but on everything else that creates a well-rounded education.

"You are fortunate to be beginning your careers at Nova Hreod which is an excellent school in which to develop your skills in the classroom and across the whole school.”

Sir David visited the school ahead of the start of the new term, and now school leaders hope to consolidate students' progress into the year ahead.

Ben Parnell, Nova Hreod's executive principal, said: “We are delighted that Sir David took the time to come and visit us to acknowledge the progress that we have made in the past year in these impressive results.

"The Regional Schools Commissioners have the responsibility for overseeing the performance of schools across the country, so to be singled out for praise is wonderful for our school.

"All the staff and students have worked so hard and their achievement sets the benchmark for our future success.”

Darren Barton, principal, said: “These results have given everyone here the confidence to continue the initiatives and changes we have put in place over the past year and push ahead even further.

"We want the very best for each of our students so we are beginning the new term buoyed by these results but ambitious for what we can achieve this year.”