A DIFFICULT year for Headlands School ended on a bright note when the school's GCSE result shot up by 25 per cent.

The Cricklade Road secondary school has now smashed through the target of 20 per cent of pupils studying at the school picking up five GCSEs at grades A to C.

At the end of the school year teachers were told that Swindon Council would be stepping in to run the school's finances and recruitment to enable head John Wells to concentrate on improving lessons.

But the results told the story yesterday, with an improvement of almost 100 per cent since Mr Wells took over in September 2000. In August 2000, just 11 per cent of pupils earned the benchmark five high grade passes.

Mr Wells pointed to the success of new schemes such as Headzup, which educates children who have other issues to cope with at a centre near the school, as the reason for the school's success.

He said: "I am very, very pleased. Again this year we have seen a considerable improvement.

"I would like to thank all the staff who have achieved some excellent results in a year that has had its difficulties.

"I believe that there is further improvement to come in our GCSE results. Along with our SATS results it indicates the school is building a firm footing for further success.

"I am sure that next year will see an even greater rise in standards as a result of the development in the last 12 months."

In art, 76 per cent of students taking the exam earned a grade C or above, almost double last year's figure, when 40 per cent got at least a C.

Head of art Lynda Gatehouse said: "If you give pupils the confidence they can do it. You just need to tell them they are good enough and give them the opportunity to do well."

Sonia Grewal, 16, from Gorse Hill, received three As, six Bs and four Cs, and will go on to study a BTEC in computing at Swindon College.

She said: "I prayed at my Sikh Temple this morning and I also prayed last night.

"Even though I am not that religious I think it helped, and God has come through for me.

"My family are all at work so I have not spoken to them yet, but they will be pleased.

"I read about what the council is doing to Headlands and I reckon it's all rubbish. I've loved my time here, and I got As, so it can't be a bad school."