Fears to cheers on the big day

4:38pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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MONTHS of waiting came to an end on Thursday when secondary school pupils around the country finally found out their GCSE results.

Schools in Andover, Whitchurch, Tidworth and Stockbridge filled up with nervous students, but their worries were quickly forgotten once the all-important envelopes were opened, when cheers, smiles and tears of joy broke out.

Everyone at Winton School had special cause for celebration, as the number pupils achieving the new standard of five or more grades A* to C, including English and maths, almost doubled.

In 2007 17 per cent of entrants there met that standard, but this year that figure rocketed to 31 per cent.

Headteacher Chris McShane, who joined the school in September, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. The pleasing thing for me is that we told people Winton is a different school, and the results have vindicated that confidence."

There was also improvement at Harrow Way Community School, where for the first time every student left with at least one qualification. The number of pupils who earned five GCSEs including English and maths graded A* to C stood at 33 per cent, up from last year's total of 32 per cent.

Headteacher Charles Currie said: "We exceeded our target, and we got some outstanding individual results. It's another milestone in the continual improvement at the school and testament to the hard work of our students and the school, and the dedication of the staff."

The impressive pass rate at John Hanson Community School fell slightly to 45 per cent.

Steve Evatt, head teacher at John Hanson Community School, said: "We're a little bit down on last year to some extent, but that was expected because year groups vary.

"We would have liked some students to have done better, but we had some really very good performances."

For the first time, both girls and boys took GCSEs at Rookwood School. A total of 79 per cent gained five passes at grades A* to C including English and maths, one per cent up on last year.

Headteacher Margaret Langley said: "I am very plesed with the results and congratulate all the pupils on their achievements."

The headteacher at Testbourne Community School in Whitchurch, Hilary Jackson said: "As far as I can tell we are on target for 66 to 67 per cent for A to C grade, so we are bang on target for this year group," she said.

"People here have been doing apprenticeships as well, so they have achieved their NVQ."

Headteacher of Test Valley School in Stockbridge, Wendy Moorish said that the hard work of both pupils and staff was the cause of another great set of results.

The percentage of pupils gaining five A* to C grades including maths and English was 63.

Mrs Moorish added: The pupils and staff at Test Valley School beat their targets this year."

Maths was a particular success for the school, where 80 per cent of pupils gained a pass graded A* to C.

At Castledown School in Ludgershall 48 per cent of pupils achieved a level of A* to C at GCSE - very similar to last year's result of 50 per cent.

Headteacher John Pender, said: "Overall we are very encouraged by this result which compares with the 30 per cent that was achieved four years ago."

This year's GCSE pupils at The Clere School scored its best-ever set of results.

It exceeded its targets by five per cent, with 66 per cent of pupils attaining five passes from A* to C - although that figure does not include English and maths.

Art, drama and German were particularly successes, where 90 per cent of entrants earned A* to C grades.

Headteacher Sarah Rogers said, "The school celebrates the highest results ever which reflect the hard work of pupils and staff."