THERE were delighted hugs and beaming faces at local schools last Thursday when the GCSE results were announced.

It was the end of a lot of nail biting for the students who had worked so hard to get their results.

At Waseley Hills High School most of the pupils looked visibly relieved when the results were unveiled.

Callum Roberts, from Cofton Hackett, was celebrating ten grade As and A*s.

"I'm speechless - it's really good news," he said.

Callum's A*s were in English, science and graphics and he's hoping to become a film director one day.

His friend Matt Banham, from Marlbrook, got nine GCSEs from A*s to one grade C.

"History is one of my favourite subjects, probably because I like the teacher. I was really nervous waiting for the results," he said.

Katy Burrows, from Rubery, achieved eight A*s and two As and a B. She said she hadn't been able to sleep for a week, adding that her best results were in science and business studies.

Her friend Laura Powell, also from Rubery, scooped three As and eight A*s. She's focused now on doing well in her A-levels and going on to university. "I like English best, but it was all really hard work."

Their headteacher, David Thurbon is celebrating an improvement on the school's previous results with more than 53 per cent gaining five grades A* to C.

"Congratulations go to the students and thanks to the staff for their hard work and commitment. I am also delighted that record numbers of pupils are returning to Waseley for post sixteen studies."

A parent outside the school said anyone who says the exams are easier nowadays can think again.

Michael Jones, with Jenny and Nicola at Waseley Hills, said: "They have both done really well, but those who think the exams are easy don't see their children sitting up until midnight and one in the morning pouring over their work."

Phil McTague, the headteacher over at South Bromsgrove High, agreed. He said: "Witnessing the looks of delight on students' faces and the sense of apprehension before they get their results, no one should ever underestimate the amount of work that goes into their achievements."

His school scored an A* to C pass rate of 64 per cent.

Over at North Bromsgrove High School head Nick Browne was equally pleased.

His students achieved a 45 per cent pass rate between A* to C grades. His high achieving students included Chris Jones with six A*s and six A grades and Mya Yie with nine A*s and two A grades.

Excellent

Bromsgrove School reported a 93.5 per cent pass rate at A* to C. Headteacher, Chris Edwards said: "It is another excellent achievement. Despite the extraordinary success, we will remain a school where the culture of broad education and personal goals will always take precedence over the culture of statistics."

It was good news too for students re-taking their GCSEs at Bromsgrove's New College. Press officer Jeff Caseley said the A to C pass rate there was 72 per cent. He explained that these were the students who failed to get the grades they wanted last year, but have now come up trumps. He added that out of the 12 subjects available, six of them, including social science and modern languages, had a 100 per cent A to C pass rate. Principal Neil Bromley said: "Once again the results are an excellent endorsement of our sixth form centre.

l YOUNGER school children throughout the county have also done very well according to the latest results for key stages 1 and 2.

Pupils between aged seven and 11 have chalked up record results, exceeding the national average in all but one category, according to the Department for Education and Skills.

Overall the results for maths key stage 2 was just a fraction of one per cent below the average for level four and two per cent lower for level five.

County Councillors Liz Eyre, responsible for children's services, said: "The improved results are testament to the hard work of pupils, staff and parents."