HUNDREDS of teenagers across Wrexham celebrated after an anxious summer waiting for their GCSE results.

The percentage of pupils across the borough achieving A* to C grades across all subjects has improved to compare favourably against all Wales figures.

Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, said: “Pupils should be very pleased with these results. They have worked very hard to achieve them, and deserve to be congratulated for their efforts.

“Thanks are also due to the efforts of teachers and all school support staff, and parents and guardians as well.”

YSGOL RHIWABON

Every student left with a range of GCSE passes or equivalent.

A significant number of students achieved the upper grades A* – B across their subjects while 87 per cent of the year group achieved A* – C in the Skills Challenge Qualification.

Melanie Ferron-Evans, headteacher, said: “This is a year group which has worked very hard to secure success, attending lots of extra lessons and revision sessions, and we are pleased with this set of results. There are some excellent individual performances.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and parents for the incredible amount of hard work and dedication shown across a wide range of studies.

"The results will enable our young people to further their studies at sixth form or to enter the world of work as confident and successful individuals.’’

MAELOR SCHOOL, PENLEY

For the second year running more than 20 per cent achieved five A* and A grades at GCSE.

Simon Ellis, headteacher, said: “The pupils have worked extremely hard to produce such good grades, I am proud of them all. They year group have seen many challenges including major curriculum change yet they have still performed brilliantly.”

DARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, ROSSETT

Year 11 celebrated 63 per cent of pupils achieving the ‘gold standard’ of five good GCSE passes including English language and mathematics.

Particularly impressive was the increase in the number of students achieving the very top grades, with 20 per cent achieving at least five A or A* grades.

Peter Agnew, headteacher, said: "Stricter rules governing the type of GCSEs which count towards measuring school performance have not dented the ambition and achievement of our students, who continue to thrive under the care and dedication of our excellent staff.’

Among the high number of pupils who did exceptionally well were Eleanor Yates with seven A* and four As, Ben Consterdine with six A* and 2As, Dylan Aldridge with four A*, two As and four Bs, Lucy Armitage with 11 A* and two As, Emily Baines with 10 A* and three As and Elycia Mackay with six A* an five A grades.

ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC AND ANGLICAN HIGH SCHOOL

Daisy Smith achieved a phenomenal 14 A*/A grades, along with Karolina Barton, Aubrey De Luna, Thomas Barlow, Emilia Swistowska and William Griffith who each amassed 10 or more A*/A grades.

Chris Wilkinson, headteacher, said: "This years results are against a backdrop of unprecedented curriculum reform - this particular Year 11 cohort have responded to the demands of new GCSE courses, new assessments, and other factors which previous year groups did not have to contend with.

"I am confident that these pupils now leave St Joseph's with the skills and qualifications to take up the next part of their educational journey, and ultimately play their part in society with far more than just grades."

YSGOL MORGAN LLWYD

A school spokesman said they was delighted with the results, adding, "there are some who have excelled of course and a special mention needs to be made for Bethan Williams who succeeded in getting eight A* and six As".

There were also excellent results for Jody Hallam, James Davies, Osian Davies, Seren Jones, Ella Oldfield, Ffion Williams, Lauren Simons, and Morgan Roberts-Alsop.

YSGOL CLYWEDOG

Matt Vickery, headteacher, said: “I am pleased with the performance of all the Year 11 students. It is good to see the results confirm the continuing progress of the school. We are so pleased that our students have performed well and have secured the results they need for the next stage of their lives.

There were some exceptional individual performances, leading to a number of top grades for Natan Abelian, with two A*, eight As and four Bs, and Bradley Goodwin with three A*, two As and three Bs.

YSGOL DINAS BRAN, LLANGOLLEN

The pass-rate was high with a large number of A*/A grades.

More than 70 per cent of grades awarded in physics and biology were A* or A. More than 70 per cent of students passed mathematics/numeracy and the new double science qualification.

Mark Hatch, headteacher, said: "We are really pleased for all our students. They have worked really hard and deserve their success. We are looking forward to seeing many of the students back in our Sixth Form in September."

YSGOL BRYN ALYN

New headteacher Adele Slinn said: "We are delighted for all of our pupils who have worked extremely hard over the past two years. There have been some outstanding results including Liberty Jones who achieved nine A*-A grades and Matt Peters who achieved eight A*-A grades.

"The school has seen an increase in all performance measures which has been extremely pleasing."

YSGOL RHOSNESNI

Staff and pupils have been celebrating great progress. A spokesman said: "Teachers and support staff have worked tirelessly to ensure examination figures have improved significantly this year.

"We are delighted that our five GCSE (including maths and English) has risen by five per cent.

"Results have continued to improve in both English language and English literature following excellent teaching and rigorous exam preparation.

"Our talented maths department has made a record leap of 16 per cent from last year, giving many more youngsters the essential pass mark.

"Our most academic students have also excelled with the number of students achieving five A*-A doubling since 2017.

"A special for Casey Edwards and Arash Khangura who both achieved 11 A/A*grades."

YSGOL Y GRANGO

The school is celebrating its best overall set of GCSE results in its history.

Strong performance has been achieved across the board and in all subject areas with continued improvements in English, mathematics and numeracy, and the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Qualification.

In the new core science and Welsh qualifications students achieved exceptional results and these were repeated in all option subjects.

Among the top achievers, those gaining five or more A*/A grades, are: Ryan Hughes, Marla Jones, Olivia Koziej, Erin Long, Alex McMeiken and Jamie Samuels.