STUDENTS across Bromsgrove were celebrating after opening their GCSE results earlier today, (August 21).

A number of pupils achieved excellent results, across the curriculum, helping their schools achieve an overall good performance in the examinations.

At South Bromsgrove High School, 80 per cent of students achieved a high level pass in maths, and 70 per cent in English.

Among the outstanding performers at the Charford Road-based school were Alice Bowles and Rosie Williams, who both achieved a maximum 10 A* grades and one distinction.

Headteacher Paul Topping said: “While students continue to achieve very good results in core areas such as English, maths and science, our school is proud to celebrate excellent levels of achievement in all subjects.

"I would like to congratulate all students and wish them well.”

Bromsgrove School achieved its best ever GCSE results, following its best ever International Baccalaureate (IB) results, and excellent A-levels results.

Overall, 34.4 per cent of all GCSE grades were at A*, 64 per cent at A* to A, with 88 per cent at A* to B.

Pupils Karan Gour, Alice Vaughan, Niall Simmons and Joseph Morrice were the star performers, achieving 11 A*s.

Peter Ruben, second deputy head academic at the Worcester Road-based school, said, “We are all thrilled with these superb results and our pupils and teachers should be very proud.

"This cohort of pupils have set themselves high standards and a very good base for success at A level, IB and beyond”.

David Hadley-Pryce, headteacher at North Bromsgrove High School, praised its pupils as 72 per cent claimed A* to C grades in both English and maths -  higher than the national average of 62 per cent.

Top performers included Matthew Crane with nine A* grades, one A grade and one B grade, Kate Elrick with eight A* grades and three A grades, and Phoebe Wright who gained eight A* grades and three A grades and one B grade.

Well-known North pupil Lauren Rowles, the 16-year-old wheelchair racer who competed in the Commonwealth Games this summer, achieved an impressive five As and five Bs.

Mr Hadley-Pryce said: "These GCSE results confirm what was clear last year - North is a great school and one that is giving its pupils a great start in life.

“It’s fantastic to see so many of our students’ hard work paying off.

"We’re proud of the diverse range of subjects and activities – for example, next year, we’ll become the first school in the region to offer a GCSE in engineering.”