SHROPSHIRE’S youngsters have again risen to the challenge and recorded GCSE grades above the national average.

Shrewsbury schools including Belvidere, The Grange, Mary Webb, Meole Brace, The Priory, Sundorne and The Wakeman School were all pleased with the results, with some best-ever performances.

Alex Raeside, Deputy Head of Sundorne school was particularly pleased, with 50 per cent of pupils getting five A* to C grades including English and mathematics, 73 per cent of students getting five of any subject.

“Overall we’re ecstatic. There’s quite a buzz about the school – they are the best results our school has ever had which shows that every single member of staff has worked together to get the results we’ve got.”

He said particular mention should go to Robin Jones and Matthew Perry who both got a range of A*s and As.

Staff at The Priory School are celebrating five or more GCSE results with English and Maths that are the best the school has ever achieved.

Josh Stell was pleased with his nine A grades and three B’s, and said: “I’ve done as well as expected, it would have been nice to have got an A* but over all I’m pretty happy. I’m going to sixth form college next and then hopefully on to uni.”

James Veecock said: “I’m feeling pretty good, I got an A*, six As, three Bs and a C and I did best in English and drama. I’m going on to do English A Level as well as history and politics. I want to be a writer.”

Jordan Vincent was also happy. “I got three A*s, three B’s and the rest A’s,” she said, “I’m very pleased, I did quite a lot of revision and it was worth it.”

Lois Allamby, 16, said: “I did best in English, drama, art and RE. I’m going on to sixth form to study English literature, performance, sociology and religious philosophy.”

Lilly Chapman, 16, said: “I did better than I expected to. I did best in English language, maths and drama.”

Headteacher Candy Garbett said: “Examination results day is always a day for celebrating individual student success and we are proud that so many students have exceeded their own personal targets and produced such stunning results.

“This year's results are particularly pleasing because so many of the students were following new courses and this always accompanied by some uncertainties about the outcomes but the results are testament to the outstanding staff.”

Students from The Grange School are also planning for the future.

Pupil George Dourish will be furthering his education in the United Arab Emirates when he takes up a place at Jumeirah College in Dubai.

He said: “I was really please with my GCSE results and am now looking forward to a great opportunity to continue with my studies at a college in Dubai.”

Fellow pupil Jade Walton, who will be taking up a place in the sixth form at The Thomas Adams School in Wem, said she too was delighted with her results, adding: “I have had a really enjoyable time at The Grange and my results have given me the chance to go on to study for my A-levels.”

Also looking forward to further education is Abi Jones who will be starting at New College in Wellington in September.

“I have had a great few years at The Grange and I am now looking forward to moving on to college life,” she said.

Headteacher Julia Thomas added: “There is a broad academic range at The Grange and many pupils did outstandingly well.

“The overall results were broadly in line with last year’s and many of the pupils have a solid footing to continue their academic success in further education.”

While much number-crunching was yet to be done Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, Cllr Aggie Caesar-Homden, said this years results looked excellent:

“It looks like being another year of high achievement,” she said. “Initial results indicate that overall Shropshire schools are likely to exceed national averages across most indicators including the recently introduced measure of the English Baccalaureate.

“This identifies achievement across a broader range of subjects, including English, mathematics, science, a humanities subject and a foreign language.

“We appreciate how hard the students have worked to gain their results and congratulate them on their achievements.

“Our thanks go to all those in our school communities who have contributed to their success. We recognise that our highly professional teachers, support staff, governors, volunteers and of course, parents and carers, have provided the support and encouragement necessary to enable the students to do so well.

“We wish all the students receiving their results today every success in the future.”