A DECLINE in top results scored by Monmouthshire A Level students is proof that 'excellence is no longer sought and excellence is no longer being delivered' at the county’s secondary schools, it has been claimed.

The leader of Monmouthshire council’s Labour group Cllr Dimitri Batrouni said pupils have been 'systematically let down'.

But the education chief for the council said she was 'disappointed' by the councillor's comments.

Provisional A Level results awarded in August show a fall from 134 top A* grades at the county's four comprehensive schools in August 2014 to 34 in 2015.

In August, King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny achieved one A* grade. Last year it achieved 26.

At Monmouth Comprehensive 62 were achieved in 2014 but it scored only 12 this year; and the fall was similar at Chepstow School, where eight of the grades were awarded, down from 29 in 2014.

Caldicot School achieved 13 A*s, down from 17 in 2014.

Cllr Batrouni acknowledged there had been a reduction in exams taken by students - from 1512 to 900 over the two years.

He told a Monmouthshire council meeting on Thursday: “These are pupils are those who have been in the system when [Monmouthshire council] had their eye off the game on education, which Estyn now tells us.

“I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

But cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Liz Hacket Pain said she was “disappointed” by Cllr Batrouni’s comments.

She said: “As a council – and that includes all of us here – we’re most certainly not in denial about our education department, our education to schools and in effect we’re most certainly in denial over that.”

Cllr Hacket Pain added: “It was pleasing to hear Monmouthshire is first in Wales at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 and it is second in Wales at foundation phase and Key Stage 3. It’s undeniable that the system we have in place is stronger than it has ever been.”