STUDENTS across the country picked up their GCSE results this morning.

The number of students gaining top grades nationwide has fallen for the second year in a row, with the number of entries graded between an A* and a C falling to was 68.1 per cent compared to 69.4 per cent last year.

And the proportion getting the top A* or a A grades is 22.4 per cent, compared to 21.3 per cent in 2012.

The overall pass rate has also fallen marginally, for the first time.

The results - released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) - show increases in numbers of pupils sitting the exams early, particularly in maths and English.

But at south Wiltshire’s schools many young people have good reason to celebrate.

At Salisbury’s Godolphin School 75 per cent of exams sat by the girls resulted in an A* or A grade, an increase on last year’s 65 per cent, and 31 per cent of the year group achieved all A* or A grades.

Headteacher Samantha Price said: “The girls have worked extremely hard throughout their GCSE courses whilst taking advantage of all the school has to offer in the many co-curricular opportunities available.

“I am extremely proud of them and thank our dedicated staff for the high calibre of teaching and dedicated support they give to every girl.”

At Trafalgar School in Downton staff and students are celebrating the best ever exam results for the seventh year in a row.

Sixty per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and Maths, with 25 per cent of those passes at A or A* grades.

Notable successes include Kayleigh Lucas with 6A*s, 4As, 2Bs and Ben Sykes with 7A*s, 4As and 2Bs.

Headteacher Jenny Lawrie said: “This is a great end to a fantastic year for the school. “The students and staff have worked tremendously hard to continue the upward trend in our attainment. I congratulate them all on their success.”

At Leehurst Swan School 91 per cent pupils gained five or more GCSEs, with nearly 30 per cent of all grades being awarded at either A or A*.

Henry Slesser gained 7A*s, 4 As and 2 Bs and Jasmine Steel scored 2A*s, 5As and 4Bs.

At Wyvern College results including English and Mathematics have broken all previous records.

Seventy-one per cent of boys achieved five A* to C grades, with 61 per cent achieving 5A* to C grades including English and maths.

Headteacher Chris Tomes said: “I would like to congratulate our students on achieving best ever results for the fourth year in a row. I wish them well as they make important decisions about their future education.”

Top student Sam Paton achieved 3A*, 5A and 2B grades, Callum Hodge gained 2A*’s 4A’s and 5B grades, Josh Read 8As and 2Bs and Joe Tooze 7As and 5Bs.

Sarum Academy pupils are celebrating another significant rise in GCSE results in 2013, with 51 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths.

Eight-nine per cent of pupils gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Megan Slark obtained 8A* and 8A grades while Soledad Luzon-Ventura gained 8A* and 4A grades.

Principal Ruth Johnson said: “Year 11 pupils have done brilliantly – everyone is so proud that their hard work has paid off – well done to all of them and thank you to our parents and families who have given such support.”

The Stonehenge School in Amesbury is celebrating the best GCSE results in the history of the school.

A sharp rise in both English and mathematics results saw the overall pass rate of five GCSEs including English and maths at A* to C rise to 55 per cent.

At Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury 70 per cent of grades were at A* or A and 31 boys gained all of their exam grades at A*and A.

And the city’s South Wilts School saw 95 per cent of girls getting ten or more A* and A grades. 

Ninety-nine per cent gained five A* to C grades, including English, mathematics and science, with every single student achieving great success. Eighty-nine per cent of the examinations taken were awarded A* and A grades.

Tegan Eldridge gained 13 A* grades, and 14 students gained 12 A* grades, including Rosie Bishop who also achieved an A grade in her AS Art examination.

A total of 68 students gained all A* and A grades.

Headteacher, Michele Chilcott said: “This is another amazing set of results for the school; students, teachers and parents have every reason to feel proud. The hard work and commitment of the students is exceptional and they deserve this success.”

The Burgate School in Fordingbridge has seen a dramatic improvement in GCSE examination results, clocking up the best results in the school’s 56-year history.

Seventy-nine per cent of students achieved 5 A* to C grades including English and Maths, up 15 per cent on last year’s results.

Headteacher David Pover said: “I am overjoyed by our exceptional GCSE results this year.  The students have made me very proud by excelling themselves and really fulfilling their potential through a determination to do well. 

“There has been consistently brilliant teaching by dedicated and hard-working staff who have provided extra lessons to enable all students to succeed.  I would also like to thank the parents, because without their support these results would not have been possible.

“The school is going from strength to strength built on its special ethos of teamwork between students and staff.”

A quarter of all examinations taken at the school were graded at A* or A. 
 

Mathematics results were particularly strong this year and achieved a new school record of 83.5 per cent at A* to C.

At Shaftesbury School more than three quarters of all grades were at A* to C, fifty-five per cent including English and maths.

Among the top performers were King Ming Lam with 9A*s and 3As, Joe Broome  with 8 A*s and 3As and Evie Twyford  with 7A*s and 4As.

Headteacher Mark Blackman said: “In these times of tougher standards for all and falling pass rates nationally it is wonderful to see the school make such a huge step forwards. 

“We have made a massive improvement since last year and we will not stop the improvements there.

“I would like to say congratulations to each and every student achieving GCSE results this summer.

"My thanks go to the parents, who have been such a help in ensuring that their children achieve the best they are capable of, and also to the staff for their work in preparing students for their exams over five years.”

At Avon Valley College in Durrington 64 per cent of students achieved five or more passes at A* to C including English and maths and the overall pass rate was 98 per cent.

Twenty-two per cent of pupils gained three or more passes at grades A or A*.

Principal Mark Avoth said: “These record results are fabulous and are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff.

"What is particularly pleasing is in a climate of ‘examination and grade turbulence’ students and staff at Avon Valley College have produced our best ever results by a significant margin.”

St Joseph’s School in Laverstock is celebrating good GCSE results for the fifth consecutive year.

Sixty-four per cent of students recorded A* to C grades including English and Maths.

Acting headteacher Rachel Ridley said: “Yet again the hard work of staff and the pupils has reaped dividends for our young students who have managed to gain an outstanding set of results this year.”

“We are particularly pleased and proud that those pupils who faced difficult circumstances have been successful almost against the odds.”  

At St Edmund’s School 71 per cent of students gained five or more GCSEs at C grade or higher including English and maths.

A quarter of the student cohort gained five or more A or A* grades, and in English 91 per cent of girls gained C grades or higher, a record for the school.

Top achievers at St Edmund’s include Zoe Pude whose results included 8A* and 3As, Ellen Whatley with 12 GCSEs at A or higher and Natalie Tan and Jade Swell, both of whom gained ten GCSEs at A and A*.

Deputy headteacher Alan Henderson said: “We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements again this year; both staff and students, with great support from parents have worked hard to gain these results.”