TWO academies who converted a year ago are celebrating improved GCSE grades, with one boasting its best yet results.

Anxious students filed nervously into Rosedale College, in Wood End Green Road, and Hewens College, in Hewens Road, both Hayes, today (Thursday) to learn their exam fate.

The two colleges joined forces last September to form the Rosedale Hewens Academy Trust, and the change has evidently led to an upturn in performance.

Two third of students at Rosedale College achieved at least five A*-Cs, including maths and English, with all pupils gaining that same amount of grades without both of those core subjects.

While Hewens College did marginally less well with 64 per cent of students gaining those all-important five A*-Cs, this represented a marked improvement compared to last year, and the best the school has done yet at GCSE.

Clive Neathey, the Trust's Executive Principal, said: "These results reflect the level of hard work and commitment shown consistently by students and staff alike in preparation for this round of examinations.

"‘Success through collaboration’ is the strapline used by the newly formed Academy Trust and these results clearly demonstrate how students have benefited by Rosedale and Hewens working purposefully and energetically together. These are magnificent results which everyone can be proud of."