PUPILS from the town's high schools were celebrating on Thursday after receiving their GCSE results.

St Augustine's High School students equalled last year's record score of more than 71 per cent achieving five A-C grades.

Headteacher Carol Buchanan said: "We're delighted to have exceeded our target of 69 per cent, which means many of our students have done better than expected on their own personal targets."

Woodrush High School headteacher Melanie Warnes said 59 per cent of students netted five or more A*-C grades.

She added: "We're very pleased with the results - they were exactly what we predicted so the students have done really well and hit their targets.

"We are particularly pleased this year to have increased the number of As and A*s while also making sure we keep our high standards of overall pass rates.

"There were high expectations but the hard work of students and staff paid off and we're absolutely delighted with the results."

Pass rates at Trinity High School were in line with last year with more than 35 per cent of students achieving A*-C grades and more than 90 per cent passes, although headteacher Marian Barton said the Easemore Road school was still awaiting confirmation of some results.

She added the top 12 students achieved 181 GCSE passes between them with many gaining seven or more A* and A grades each.

"Again, we're proud of the achievements of our students and staff and look forward to many students continuing their studies in the sixth form," said Mrs Barton.

Kingsley College was 'very pleased' with its results this year, which saw a 50 per cent increase on last year's five A*-C pass rate and well above the national average of students gaining at least one qualification.

A spokesman said: "The students who took GCSEs this year were drawn from Bridley Moor and The Leys High schools and despite a very disruptive time which involved moving schools midway through their provision, students have achieved a great deal.

"These results bode well for the future and next year will see, for the first time, students who have been with us all the way through to taking their exams."

Studley High School pupils achieved the second best GCSE results in the school's history with 62.1 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A*-C grades and 95 per cent grades A*-G.

Deputy head Pat Lopeman said: "The students achieved results very much in line with our predictions and we are very pleased with the overall performance."

Thirty nine per cent of pupils at Arrow Vale Community High School gained at least five A*-C grades.