VIDEO RECORD-breaking Suffolk students were today celebrating as our schools announced a set of stunning GCSE results.

RECORD-breaking Suffolk students were today celebrating as our schools announced a set of stunning GCSE results.

Teenagers across the county were rewarded for their hard work with outstanding grades, eclipsing even those seen last year.

The successes in Suffolk were matched nationally where GCSE results improved yet again, prompting critics to reiterate calls for a toughening up of the exams.

At Orwell High School, in Felixstowe, 54 per cent of students achieved at least five GCSEs at Grades A* to C, up from 48pc in 2006 and 37pc in 2004.

The school also reported that 43pc of students achieved five or more A* to C passes including English and Maths, up from 37pc in 2006 and 27pc in 2004.

Peter Tomkins, headteacher, said: 'We are really pleased that so many of our students have achieved so highly. They have really worked hard and deserve this success.”

New Kesgrave High School headteacher Nigel Burgoyne praised students for a set of excellent results.

The school saw 67pc of pupils gaining five A8 to C grades and 97pc achieving five A* to G grades.

Mr Burgoyne said: “We are very pleased. Most of our students are progressing on to sixth form.”

Copleston High School in Ipswich matched last year's best-ever results with 63pc of students achieving five or more A* to Cs.

In all, 97pc achieved five or more A* to G, while 56pc of students were awarded five or more A* to Cs including English and maths.

There were outstanding individual performances with some students gaining at least nine A*s.

On average students achieved the equivalent of nine grade Cs at GCSE level.

David East, deputy headteacher said: “Once again this is a pleasing achievement and will lift staff, parents and students in what has been a challenging year for Copleston High School.

“Students have worked under trying conditions which make these a particularly pleasing set of results.”

Northgate High School headteacher Neil Watts said pupils had done themselves proud with an impressive set of GCSE results from the 223 pupils who sat the exams.

More than 25pc of the grades awarded at the Ipswich school were at A or A* and 70pc were Cs or above. In all, 69pc of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, while 27 pupils achieved eight or more grades at A or A*.

At St Albans Catholic High School in Ipswich, students achieving five A* to C grades was in the mid 70pc mark, while 67pc of five A* to C grades were in English and maths.

Headteacher Dennis McGarry said: “Our results this year exceeded our statutory targets. There were outstanding performances in all of our core subjects and 30pc of all grades were either A* or A.”

Holywells High School reported improvements across the board.

In all, 28pc of students gained five A* to C grades, while 87pc achieved five A* to Gs.

Headteacher Ruth Everard said: “We are pleased with these results.”

Claydon High School was celebrating excellent results, too, with 59pc gaining five A* to C grades and 97pc gaining five A* to G grades. One student gained nine A*s and an A.

Holbrook High School celebrated with 74pc of students gaining five A* to Cs, 60pc gaining five A* to C including English and maths, and 98pc gaining five A8 to G grades.

Headteacher Rob Sherington said: “We are delighted. I congratulate our students and staff who have worked so hard to achieve these results.”

Students at Stowmarket High School saw 60pc of students gaining five A* to C grades, 49pc achieving five or more A* to C including English and maths and 99pc gaining at least one or more pass between A* and G.

Stowupland High School was celebrating the best results in the school's history and a staggering 15pc improvement from last year.

In all, 65pc of students gained five or more A* to C grades.

Headteacher Karen Grimes said: “They should all be very proud of their achievements.

Among the high achievers were Dawn Hollis, James Catton, Eden Varden-Tyson, Charlotte Lewis, Chris Sherfield and Nyal Clement-smith.

At Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge, 70pc of students gained five A* to C grades, 58pc gaining five A* to C including maths and English.

Headteacher Sue Hargadon said: “We are over the moon.”

At Chantry High School 60pc of pupils gained at least GCSEs between A* and C.

Acting headteacher Andrew Fell said: “We're very happy with our results.”

St Joseph's College in Ipswich also reported outstanding results, with four students coming in the top five nationally for English.

Ipswich High School for Girls saw jubilant scenes as pupils and staff celebrated some of their best GCSE results ever.

Combined A* and A results topped 75pc with more than one third of all girls gaining straight A* and A grades.

Headteacher Elaine Purves said: “We are thrilled for the girls and the school. The teachers and pupils have put tremendous effort and energy into the GCSE studies, and these fantastic results are well deserved.”

Hadleigh High School reported their best-ever grades, with 70pc of students gaining at least five A*s to C.

Headteacher Kathy Tooze said: “The results are a 1pc increase on 2006 which is a great achievement as last year was a stong year group.”

At Ipswich School, no fewer than 21 students achieved A* and A grades in all subjects, and three of them, Archie Gravell, Edward Harrison, and Emma Rawcliffe achieved A*s in every subject.

Headmaster Ian Galbraith said: “I am very pleased that all our candidates got at least five A* to C grades and delighted that 21 students achieved A* and A grades in all their subjects.

“This reflects both their ability and their hard work.”

Thurleston High School headteacher Mike Everitt said staff and students were delighted with their results.

He added: "We have worked really hard and these are terrific results.

"We have done better this year than in previous years.”

Chris Edwards, headteacher at Westbourne High School in Ipswich, reported that 50pc of students had achieved five A* to C grades, and 32pc between A* to C including maths and English.

Mr Edwards said: “We are very pleased and this is a happy school today.”

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