MONMOUTHSHIRE students celebrated across the county as GCSE grades improved by eight per centage points above last year’s results.

The number of GCSE students achieving 5 A*-C grades including English or Welsh plus Maths in the county has risen from 57.3 per cent to 65.02 per cent. Students celebrated the best GCSE results to date at Chepstow School with 70 per cent of pupils achieving A*-C grades including English and Maths.

Claire Price, head teacher at Chepstow School, said: "It is brilliant, this year is the record for our best results ever. It is amazing we are so delighted with the results today.

English Language grades have improved by 15 per cent since last year at Chepstow School.

Mrs Price said: "This is our third successful year. We have gone from 52 per cent to 70 per cent pass rate. This group of students have done really well. Hopefully we can continue improving and next year we will be near the 80 per cent pass rate."

Emma Ford, 16, of Shirenewton, a Year 11 pupil at Chepstow School, achieved 5A*, 4A's and a distinction in additional Maths.

She said: “I am very pleased, I didn't know how they were going to go especially with the changes in grade boundaries but I am very happy with my results. I am going to be celebrating with my friends later.

"I am staying on here for sixth form to study Maths, Biology and Chemistry. I'm not sure about the fourth one yet- it might be physics of further Maths. I hope to study medicine at university."

Caldicot School have seen an improvement of students achieving 5 A*-C grades from 77.21 per cent to 91.35 per cent.

Mark Sexton, deputy head teacher at Caldicot School, said: "We are absolutely delighted with today's results. They are our best GCSE results ever.

"This is the third consecutive year of excellent results."

Laura Bailey, of Caerwent, a Year 11 pupil at Caldicot School, achieved 3A*, 2 A's and 3B's.

She said: "I wasn't nervous until my parents started making me nervous in the car. I am quite proud of my results - it's quite overwhelming."

Joe Carter, 15, of Undy, is a Year 10 pupil at Caldicot who achieved 7A* including Chemistry, Physics, Biology, English Literature, Welsh and History.

He said: "I'm quite proud of myself."

Monmouth Comprehensive School saw a 13.74 per cent increase in the number of student achieving 5 GCSEs A*-C grades including English or Welsh plus Maths from 57.1 per cent to 70.88 per cent.

The number of student at the secondary school who achieved 5 A*-C grades increased from 83.46 per cent to 93.49 per cent.

Cllr Liz Hacket Pain, cabinet member for education, said: "These excellent results demonstrate that the council has invested its resources wisely in order to improve its education service. We have made a step change in the level of performance across all of our schools and I will now focus on ensuring that these standards are met and are exceeded in future years

"Monmouthshire’s students worked hard and displayed commitment while receiving dedicated support from their professional teaching staff. They and their parents and carers will be very proud of their success. I congratulate them and wish them the very best for the future.”