THERE were smiling faces and tears as Winchester students ripped open envelopes for their GCSE results last week.

After five years of hard work, Year 11 pupils across the city discovered their results last Thursday (August 21) and teachers across the board seemed pleased with the outcome.

At Perins School, 65 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades including maths and English, and friends jumped around each other in celebration.

Headteacher Janice Bernard said: "It's pretty comparable to last year and we are very pleased with that. There are some amazing individual achievements."

Overall, 76 per cent of students achieved A* to C grades and many pupils could be seen phoning their families to relay the results.

Eight students at the Alresford School gained A and A* grades in all ten of their subjects. They are: Helen Blackbourn, Thomas Essex, Ross Hunter, Gabriel Jacobs, Alastair Bayliss, Gabriella Lane, Doug Wicks and Jasmine Wright.

At The Westgate School, in Cheriton Road, there were mums, dads, siblings, babies and puppies in on the celebrations as people gathered around 'The Hub'.

There was chat about college, university and how to spend the rest of their summer, as pupils shared around their papers.

One student was shaking with relief as she told her teachers she'd passed.

Hampshire Chronicle: Westgate resultsWestgate results

Paul Nicholson, headteacher, said: "We are very pleased and it represents an enormous team effort on behalf of our staff and pupils. 74 per cent of pupils gained A* to C grades in five subjects including English and maths.

"Last year we had 84 per cent so it's slightly down but it still represents a fair result and we are very pleased."

Henry Beaufort School saw an increase in the number of students achieving five A* to C grades including Maths and English, from 59 per cent last year, to 62 per cent this year.

Headteacher Sue Hearle said many students faced considerable personal challenges during their time at school, and she is pleased to see them achieve their results.

“I am delighted that they have worked so hard to catch up on the numeracy and literacy skills required for successful completion of their courses,” she said.

“The increase in the five A* to C grades including maths and English for the second year running is indicative of the hard work and commitment of the staff to enable all of our students to achieve success in their GCSE results, further endorsing the Ofsted observation, on June 13, that at Henry Beaufort School 'every child really does matter'.”

The school is also celebrating the success of 65 Year 10 students who took their English literature exams a year early. They achieved a 100 per cent A* to C pass rate, with 63 per cent achieving an A* or A grade.

At Kings' School, in Romsey Road, headteacher Matthew Leeming said he is pleased with the results, despite changes in exams.

“We still have some English results to be finalised. Over 81 per cent of our pupils have achieved five A* to C grades including Maths and English, and 89 per cent have achieved five A to C,” he said.

“It represents a magnificent achievement by our pupils, and given recent changes to examinations, is on par with our best results.”