PUPILS and staff at WIllowgarth High were celebrating yesterday after gaining record GCSE passes - the best results in the borough.

More than 66 per cent of pupils taking exams achieved A to C grades and some pupils got 19 GCSEs.

Stacey Dawson was delighted when she opened her results to discover she had 11 As, four Bs and five Cs.

Neal Clarke had nine As, four Bs and six Cs and has secured a scholarship to study A Levels at Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Leeds.

Lucy Cooke achieved 16 grades at A to C.

The school has improved upon last year's pass rate of 39 per cent, putting it down to building on successes over a few years.

Mike Bunce, assistant head, said: “Over six years we have had increasing improvements. From each success we have fine tuned the results and students making subject choices have been guided and individually mentored.”

Royston High School topped last year's grades with 49 per cent of pupils achieving A to C passes.

The highest results came from Coralie Sharpe who got five A*s, four As and a C.

Headteacher Kay Jenkins said: “We are delighted with the results this year. It tops off a good year with the specialist status as well. The most credit should go to the students themselves and the support from parents. It is a year group that rose to the challenge."