Pupils at County Upper School, in Bury, brought home their best-ever set of results, with 11 per cent of candidates gaining at least eight A* and A grades and 79 per cent of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C.

Jonathan Soman, 16, gained 10 A*s and three As.

Jonathan, of Bockhill Road, Bury, said: "It has been quite an exciting summer."

Headteacher Vicki Neale said: "I am absolutely delighted with these results, which are the best in our history.

"They were a bright year group but they worked hard with staff and parents to get the results."

Youngsters at St Benedicts Upper School, in Beetons Way, Bury, also scored highly, with 29 per cent of entrants scoring A*s or As.

Headteacher Paul Rossi said students had fulfilled their potential, with 77 per cent of candidates getting five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C.

He said: "You hear cries of joy and it is great to see them do well.

"The majority of students have achieved their targets."

But delays with results at King Edward VI School, in Bury, meant there were mixed emotions at the time of going to press. Not including the delayed science results, 72 per cent of youngsters gained five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C, lower than the other schools in the town.

Milly Harvey, 16, from Bull Rush Crescent, in Bury, was overwhelmed to gain 3 A*s, five As and 2 Bs.

She said: "I am very nervous, excited and surprised."

Headteacher Geoff Barton said: "We have done well and many schools would be thrilled with these results.

"But we are slightly disappointed, because they have been such a great year group."

At West Suffolk College, in Bury, 81 per cent of its 57 candidates achieved grades A-C, with 18 per cent achieving A* and A grades and 100 per cent awarded grades A-E.

Phil Thirkettle, vice-principal, said: "The college is very proud of its students' hard work and achievements."

At Culford School, 38 per cent of students passed with A* or A grades, while 71 per cent achieved A*-B grades.

Overall, the school had a 93 per cent A*-C pass rate and 99 per cent of its 75 candidates passed at least five subjects with A*-C grades.

Dr John Guntrip, director of studies, said, "These are an excellent set of results which are a real tribute to how much hard work pupils and teachers put in."

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