Newsquest has shown to have the best-trained reporters in the industry - after sweeping the board in the latest batch of journalism exam results.

From the 63 trainee reporters across the UK who took the National Qualification in Journalism in November, 43 passed – recording an average pass rate of 78%.

Newsquest accounted for 28 of those with 24 of the passes recording a higher than average pass rate of 86%.

Among those passing the exam was Ben Goddard, from the Hereford Times.

Ellis Whitehouse, of the Maldon & Burnham Standard, also excelled and gained the highest result in the country in the Media Law exam.

He said: “Reporting in court and inquests is something I’ve really grown to enjoy in this role, and this award shows that I’m clearly doing something right.”

Editorial development director Toby Granville said: “I always thought we had the best journalists in the industry – and results like these prove it.

"Our focus on having the best-trained fully-qualified reporters means that when it comes to trusted news there is no better place to turn to than your local Newsquest newspapers and websites.”

The full list of 24 Newsquest trainees who passed the NQJ in November are: Mary Naylor – Bury Times

Jessica Wells – Wiltshire Gazette & Herald Stacey-

Lee Christon – The Northern Echo

Courtney Friday – Reading Chronicle

Tom Davis – Redditch Advertiser

Anthony Lewis – Penarth Times

Chris Binding – South Wales Argus

Lloyd Bent – Westmorland Gazette

Chloe Laversuch – Warrington Guardian

Ned Bristow – Knutsford Guardian

Joshua Searle – Maldon & Burnham Standard

Emily Collis – Bromsgrove Advertiser

Niall Griffiths – South Wales Argus

Sara Royle – Westmorland Gazette

Laura O’Callaghan – Waltham Forest Guardian

Vicky Gayle – Daily Gazette

Robbie Bryson – Braintree & Withham Times

Shruti Sheth Trivedi – Bucks Free Press 

Ellis Whitehouse – Maldon & Burnham Standard

Neil Athey – Lancashire Telegraph

David Jagger – Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Josh Wright – Gloucestershire Gazette

Katie Feehan – Essex Echo

Ben Goddard – Hereford Times.