TAUNTON School today announced a record year for A-level results.

The school has gained an impressive overall pass rate of 99%, a record A-B rate of 73%, nearly half of all A-levels taken at the school resulted in a grade A and three students secured places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Boys did better than girls in achieving A-C grades with 87.7%, bucking the national trend, compared to 85.6% of girls. However, 73% of girls achieved A-B grades, compared to 72.3% of boys, while 47.7% of girls received an A, compared to 45.4% of boys.

Taunton School head teacher, Dr John Newton, said: "We are delighted with this year's results. They display the very sound academic grounding that our pupils receive.

"Taunton School's sixth form programme will be further enhanced by offering our pupils the choice of A-level or the International Baccalaureate from September 2007. Our aim is to enable these young people to stand out at university and in the job market of the future.

"Introducing the International Baccalaureate was a decision made from a position of strength. I think it will establish itself well and have taken the decision to introduce it, not because we see the failings of A-levels, but to give them an option and shape them ready for the world in the twenty-first century.

The school is launching the International Baccalaureate a year ahead of UK educational reforms, which will see the introduction of the new Vocational Diploma and A*-level exams to provide a greater choice for pupils.

*See next week's County Gazette for a full round up of A-level results and photos.