Over half of the GCSE examinations sat by pupils at independent schools this summer were awarded the top grades of A or A*.

Results from 574 schools, compiled by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), showed steady progress on last year, with 53.1% of pupils getting the top grades, compared with 52.3% in 2001.

The hard work done by all pupils in both state and independent schools should be given full recognition

Alistair Cooke, Independent Schools Council

The proportion of A and A*s being scored in the private sector is well above the national average, which stands at 16.4%.

Top place in the table compiled by ISC on the basis of the results was claimed by St Paul's School in London.

St Paul's pushed Prince Harry's school, Eton College, off the top slot into second place and in third place was The Abbey School in Reading.

Head teacher at St Paul's, Stephen Baldock said that, while he was pleased with the results, coming top of school league tables was "not a priority".

Exam results only represented one part of an overall education, he stressed.

"I think most heads regard tables as both volatile and representative of only a small aspect of the total education a school is trying to offer," said Mr Baldock.

Raising standards

ISC general secretary Alistair Cooke said the contribution private schools made to raising standards was not sufficiently recognised.

"The hard work done by all pupils in both state and independent schools should be given full recognition," said Mr Cooke.

"But when did an education minister last extend a word of praise to the standards set by independent schools from which other schools can benefit?

"Opportunities can be increased and disadvantage tackled by enabling more families to gain places in ISC schools under the wider access proposals that the ISC has put forward."