PUPILS and staff at Weaverham High School celebrated its best ever GCSE exam results.

An impressive 74 per cent of pupils achieved the former government benchmark of five GCSEs at C grade or higher including both English and maths.

The new government ‘Basics’ benchmark – grade C or higher in both English and maths – was achieved by 78 per cent of pupils, the highest proportion the school has ever recorded.

And nearly 50 per cent of pupils achieved the government’s EBacc measure – C grade or higher in each of English, maths, two sciences, a foreign language and a humanities subject – another record for the school.

David Charlton, head teacher, said: “I am delighted with these superb results which shows how well our pupils have achieved.

“Our high results on the Basics indicator show how well Weaverham High School equips pupils with the skills they need for later life.

"The EBacc results show that pupils did not achieve their success by taking what might be considered easy subjects.”

Fifteen pupils achieved 10 or more GCSEs at A* or A grade. Alison Hutchinson from Kingsmead achieved nine A* grades.

One third of the GCSE exams taken this summer has resulted in an A* or an A grade, a six per cent increase over last year’s results.

Luke Oakes, from Winsford, achieved seven A*s, three As and one A* distinction in further maths.

He said: "It's just a relief. I've been worrying for so long, to the point where I've been feeling sick.

"At first I couldn't bring myself to open it. I had to immerse myself in a corner. As soon as I opened it I was overwhelmed. I was speechless."

Other pupils who achieved 10 or more GCSEs at A* or A grade included Naomi Davies and Eleanor Sykes from Cuddington; Eddie Quinliven and Heaven Soukovelos from Davenham; Joshua Appleton and Mia Dalton from Weaverham; Jennifer Addison; Luke Thornhill from Anderton; Peter Naylor from Comberbach; Emily Peak from Middlewich; James Clark from Norley; Silas Plant from Sandiway and Jennifer Roscher from Whitegate.

This year disadvantaged pupils at the school also recorded their highest achievement seeing big increases in their English and Maths results.