CHESHIRE schools are 12 months ahead of their targets.

The Government has demanded just under a third of pupils at every school pass five or more GCSEs at A-C grades by this year’s exams.

Cheshire met the criteria in 2007.

Not only did all Cheshire schools surpass the 30% mark, but some 63.4% achieved five or more passes.

That is an increase of 1.5% on the previous year and 1.4% above the national average.

More than half (51.5%) of students included English and Maths in the A to C passes, a better performance by 1% on 2006 figures and nearly 5% ahead of the national average, says the county council.

Fewer students are also leaving with no passes at all and in A-level examinations Cheshire students averaged 747.8 points per pupil in a new scoring system which is an increase of 15 points on the previous year.

Cheshire’s absence rate is 7.2%, nationally it is 7.8%.