A HEADTEACHER has praised pupils and staff after celebrating "wonderful" results in the new-look GCSEs.

Clacton County High principal Neil Gallagher said the school had seen some "stunning results and amazing success stories" which meant all students were now going on to apprenticeships, sixth form or further education.

Top performers include Charlotte Hope who got six A* grades, a distinction* and grades 8, 7, 9 in maths, language and English literature.

Shannon Fisher got five A* grades, an A, a Distinction* and three grade 8s, Adam Swaine got six A*, a distinction* and grades 9, 8 and 5 in maths, language and English literature.

The school said Aaron Morgan, Amelia Newport, Luke Whitfield, Alice Smith and Vishnu Sureshbabu also achieved a "staggering number" of top grades.

Mr Gallagher said: “I am delighted for our students and their families, my congratulations go out to them all.

"I cannot praise the staff here at CCHS more highly for their commitment and dedication to our students.”

Clacton Coastal Academy said pupils had "surpassed all expectations" to achieve top grades in the new maths and English GCSEs.

Six students achieved the new grade 9 - which is even more challenging than the old A*.

And more than 90 pupils were awarded grade 7, A or distinction grades or above in at least one or more subject.

Head boy Charlie Campbell scored the best overall results with the equivalent of five A* and five As.

Sasha Simenok and Sarah Bright also showed excellent progress having achieved two grades higher at GCSE than national levels of progress.

Principal Stephanie Neill said: “This summer has seen the highest grades achieved in GCSE and A level at Clacton Coastal Academy.

"We are very proud of these achievements. They reflect the attention to detail and hard work of our students and our staff.”

This summer saw students sitting the new Grade 9-1 GCSEs for the first time in Maths and English.

Mrs Neill said: "Staff worked incredibly hard to prepare students for examinations that no one had sat or seen.

The programme of exams this summer was very intense.

"Most students were sitting exams day after day for a long period and had to be very well prepared to cope with this pressure.

"These exams were designed to hold higher levels of challenge and for so many students to achieve the highest grades is a significant personal achievement."

There was a "terrific buzz" of excitement as pupils at Tendring College nervously opened their GCSE results.

Principal Michael Muldoon was thrilled with the number of top grades in the revamped English and maths exams.

Joshua Mulryne celebrated a clean sweep with top 9 grades in English language, English literature and maths and A* in seven other subjects.

“I'm completely overwhelmed," he said.

"I am ecstatic, the results open lots of doors for me. They make it easier for me to take my next steps and hopefully in the future go to university to study humanities. I would like to thank my parents and teachers for their help and support.”

Katelyn Gibson got top grades in maths and English language, an 8 in English literature and A* grades in seven more subjects.

Gabrielle Smith scored seven top grades, with Justine Salumbides, Morgan Brigden and Tara Best also among the top performers.

Gabrielle said “I am extremely happy with my grades - they are higher than I thought.

"I am staying at Tendring Technology College for my A levels. I would like to thank my teachers and my mother for never giving up on me.”

Chloe Lewis, Freddie Fowle, Josh Head, Liam Kerr, Maisie Raymond, Jack Speck, Grace Farrance and Chloe Lewis also picked up new 9 grades among their results.

Chloe Barnard, Tara Best, Cydney Burnett, Megan Green, Chloe Hayes, Gretta Keeys, Gabrielle Smith and Arianna Yau were among the students making the most progress.

Mr Muldoon said: "There has been a fantastic buzz of excitement, relief and celebration as students have opened their envelopes this morning and been delighted to have gained the fantastic qualifications that their hard work and effort has deserved.