A BANBURY secondary school is celebrating after new figures show it is in the top 30 most improved in the country.

Just over three years ago only 25 per cent of students at North Oxfordshire Academy, in Drayton Road, achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs including English and maths.

But in the latest results for 2012, 59 per cent of youngsters made the grade, up from 49 per cent in 2011 and 38 per cent in 2010.

Overall, 93 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grade GCSEs.

The improvements mean the school is the 27th most improved in the country.

Formerly Drayton School, North Oxfordshire Academy was the county’s first academy in 2007.

Principal Sara Billins, said the school’s achievements had been worth all the “blood, sweat and tears”.

She said: “These results, which show that North Oxfordshire Academy continues to make huge strides forward, are testament to our incredibly hard working and committed students and staff.”