BANDING results for Welsh schools have been released by the Welsh Assembly Government, with no Monmouthshire secondary schools making it into the top bracket.

The bands range from 1-5, 5 being the worst. Caldicot Comprehensive School is listed in Band 2, Chepstow Comprehensive School in Band 3 and Monmouth Comprehensive School in Band 4.

A spokesperson for Monmouthshire County Council said: "Monmouthshire schools are amongst Wales' best performers at GCSE and A Level.

"School banding is one of a number of ways of measuring performance in schools. Banding links, in particular, GCSE results to the uptake of free school meals. On this measure we are pleased to see a rise in banding in half our high schools.

"We are also aware of a slight decline in Monmouth Comprehensive and no change of banding at King Henry VIII School.

"Our schools are working very hard to ensure their own self-evaluation and improvement strategies drive standards and outcomes. We have excellent understanding of our schools' progress based on first-hand knowledge and forensic examination of whole-school data.

"The Education Minister, Huw Lewis has stated that he intends to review aspects of the banding system. We welcome this commitment."

The banding system was brought in in 2011, designed as an effective way to group schools together, enabling closer, specified monitoring and support.

Often described as confusing by those who use it, officials insist that the banding results is not a form of league table.