NERVOUS pupils around the area are now celebating after finding out their GCSE results today.

And at Harrow Way School, 80 per cent of pupils achieved grade 9 to 4 in English and 70 per cent in maths.

In both English and maths, 64 per cent achieved a grade 9 to 4, and 71 per cent gained five or more A* to C grades overall.

Headteacher Michael Serridge said: “Every year Harrow Way steps up to a new level with the GCSE results – the school, students and teachers just get stronger and stronger.

“My congratulations must firstly go to this cohort and to their families for their hard work and commitment to their studies.”

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.

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