STUDENTS, parents and teachers at Orwell High in Felixstowe were today celebrating the school's best ever GCSE results.

Richard Cornwell

STUDENTS, parents and teachers at Orwell High in Felixstowe were today celebrating the school's best ever GCSE results.

Headteacher Peter Tomkins said the school was showing steady progress - with 60 per cent of students achieving at least five GCSEs at Grades A* to C, up from 54pc last year, 48pc in 2006 and 37pc in 2004.

Those students achieving five or more A* to C passes, including English and Maths, was 40pc.

Among the outstanding students was Rosie Wooley who achieved 12 passes including eight at A*, three at A and a Distinction in her DiDA qualification at ICT.

A further 11 students achieved at least seven As and A* - Jonathon Gage, Elizabeth Faichney, Alysia Scheutzle, Alice Grimes, Stephanie Jeffrey, Rebecca Wooden, Grayling Marsh, Tom Lucking, Stuart Cheadle, Verity Addi-son and James Jacobs.

Mr Tomkins said the school was equally proud of those students who outperformed their predictions at any level. All students achieved at least one pass at A* to G and 99pc achieved five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to G.

He added: “Some students have achieved despite considerable problems during their GCSE years.

“Luke Logansmith missed a lot of time while he was seriously ill in hospital, however went on to achieve nine passes at GCSE, including three As and an A Level in Critical Thinking.”

The science department was particularly successful with 78pc of all students in Year 11 achieving at least two Cs in science compared to a Suffolk figure of 56.5pc last year and that would put Orwell High School in the top three state schools in Suffolk based on the 2007 results.

Dave Travers, science subject leader, said: “It is fantastic to be one of the highest performing science departments in the county.

“This is a tribute to the hard work of our very dedicated staff and superb students.”

Mr Tomkins added: “We are really pleased that so many of our students have achieved so highly.

“They have really worked hard and deserve this success.

“Over the last three years the schools results have risen from 37pc of students achieving five or more grades at C to 58pc of them doing this well.”

Chairman of governors John Barker said the governors were “absolutely delighted” with the improving results and praised the head and senior leadership team for their input.