PRIVATE schools in the region are celebrating another successful year for GCSE results.

Data from the Independent Schools Council Information Service (ISCis), shows the top-performing North-East school was the Royal Grammar School, in Newcastle, which ranked at number 26 in the national league table.

Of the 140 pupils who sat GCSEs at the private school, the average score per candidate was 71, where an A-grade scores eight points.

St Peter's School in York was the second best performing school in the region with an average score for each pupil of 70.5.

On Teesside, Yarm School was top with candidates scoring an average of 63.4.

Headmaster David Dunn said last night: "I am absolutely delighted. I am very proud of what the pupils have achieved. They have worked very hard this year.

"It is particularly pleasing because quite a substantial did some GCSEs a year to six months early.

"Every single girl and boy got maths GCSE a year early."

In County Durham, Durham High School for Girls was top of the league with its 38 GCSE students scoring an average of 65.5.

Polam Hall School, in Darlington, came second with an average score per candidate of 58.5.

Acting headmistress Susanne Davison said: "This is a wonderful result to be placed second in the league tables in Durham County as a non-selective school. We are delighted with each individual girls' performance reflecting all of their commitment to their studies."

Other top-achieving schools include Bootham School in York, which ranked 31 in the national table, and Central Newcastle High school, which ranked at 63.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) said 54.6 per cent of entries from its candidates were awarded A* or A-grades this year, up 1.5 per cent from 53.1 per cent in 2002.

That contrasted with the overall results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland which showed only a 0.3 per cent rise in the number of entries given the top two grades.

ISC general secretary Alistair Cooke said: ''This year's outstanding results reflect the individual achievements of several thousand young people, who deserve the congratulations of us all."