SECONDARY school students in and around Andover celebrated as they opened up their GCSE exam results today.

This is the first year of a change to the grading system with pupils being graded from 9 to 1 in English and mathematics, with 9 equating to what was a high A* and a 1 to a G.

Fewer grade 9s were expected to be awarded than A*s with a select few students achieving straight 9s.

One of the ways in which results will be measured is the number of students who have achieved a ‘standard pass’, or grade 4, which is the equivalent to the bottom of a grade C.

What will also be recorded is the number of students who get a ‘strong pass’ in English and mathematics, a grade 5, equal to a high C/low B.

Sixty-four per cent of John Hanson School pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and mathematics - an increase of four per cent on last year.

Overall 80 per cent of students gained a grade 4 or above in English while 68 per cent achieved the same in maths.

More than 90 per cent of the students gained a C grade or better in biology, chemistry, physics, French, GCSE Physical Education and BTec Sport.

Russell Stevens, headteacher, said: “I would like to offer congratulations to all Year 11 students on behalf of myself and all the staff at John Hanson for another year of outstanding examination results.

“Examination results however are about individuals and the life chances their achievements offer to them.

“That is why I could not be more proud of vast array of individual success that this year’s results have brought about.

“I am sure that armed with some amazing results John Hanson students will progress with confidence on to the next step in their educational journey.”

For more comprehnsive coverage of this year's results, keep an eye for next week's Advertiser (Friday, September 1)