'Failing' council's A-level rise

A-level pass rates have risen by 0.7% in Denbighshire

A local authority which was severely criticised by schools watchdog Estyn has seen a rise in its A-level pass rate.

However, Denbighshire's rate of 96.9% is still below both the Welsh and UK averages.

A damning Estyn report in September 2007 eventually led to the ousting of former council leader Rhiannon Hughes.

An Estyn report earlier this year said the authority's education service had started to show signs of improvement.

Denbighshire said its pass rate had increased 0.7% from last year.

The Welsh average figure for A-E grades is 97.6% and UK average is 97.2%.

Council leader Hugh Evans said: "I would like to congratulate all the students who achieved the grades they required for furthering their education, and I wish them every success in their future careers.

"I am pleased to see that we have maintained our standards at A-Level with a small increase in the percentages from last year."

In January, the authority appointed former Estyn inspector Gareth Wyn Jones as head of school improvement to tackle the problems.