EXPRESSIONS of joy, glee and relief swept across the faces of teenagers across Suffolk today as they opened their GCSE results. Just a week after unprecedented high pass rates by A level students today was the turn of the county's younger students to celebrate rises in the numbers of top grades, although the overall pass rate stayed the same at 96.

EXPRESSIONS of joy, glee and relief swept across the faces of teenagers across Suffolk today as they opened their GCSE results.

Just a week after unprecedented high pass rates by A level students today was the turn of the county's younger students to celebrate rises in the numbers of top grades, although the overall pass rate stayed the same at 96.7 per cent.

It was a mixed picture in Suffolk with many schools reporting best ever results while other schools were left disappointed.

In England and Wales the proportion of entries awarded a C or better rose to 59.2pc from 58.1pc while there was a 0.7pc rise in the ones awarded the top two grades.

However, as high-flying pupils celebrated staggering strings of A* grades, the overall pass rate dropped from 0.1pc to 96.5pc, when new job-related courses were taken into account. The A* to G-grade pass rate for traditional academic GCSEs stayed at 96.7pc.

Boys narrowed the gap with girls this year in the annual tally of the top grades.

In recent years, girls have outperformed boys when it comes to getting grades A* to C and a sharp difference between the sexes remains.

But boys inched forward from last year by 0.4pc. This means that 8.4pc more girls achieved at least grade C in the exams they took than boys.

When it comes to achieving the very highest marks, girls remain significantly ahead.

This year's official statistics showed 5.3pc more girls than boys gained A* and A grades in their GCSEs.

As weeks of nervous waiting came to an end students from schools across the region were congratulated by council chiefs keen to pass on their good wishes.

Tony Lewis, member of Suffolk County Council's executive committee, said: "I know that young people have put in a considerable amount of hard work to achieve these qualifications, and they are to be applauded.

"I would also like to thank the teachers, parents and all in the education community who have supported and encouraged these students."

"It is very important that our young people leave school with qualifications that will help them make the best possible start in life.

"This is why we have made raising levels of achievement in schools in Suffolk one of our top priorities."

School Standards Minister David Miliband also welcomed the results.

He said: "Today's results are excellent and reflect the hard work of pupils and teachers. More pupils have taken GCSEs and more pupils are doing well."

Many Suffolk schools reported record pass rates and many were delighted with the student's performance.