STUDENTS and staff are celebrating after record breaking set of GCSE results.

Manningtree High School made incredible progress with 68 per cent of students achieving five or more grades between A* and C including English and Maths, the highest ever results for the school and a 15 per cent increase from last year.

Delighted headteacher Deborah Hollister said: “Rapidly rising results are based on hard work, quality teaching, great support and a relentless focus on individual students making the progress we know they are capable of.

“Many, many congratulations to the super students, their tremendous teachers and also to their fabulous families for their enduring support.”

The number of students at Harwich and Dovercourt High School who achieved at least five A*-C grades dropped slightly to 56 per cent.

Acting headteacher Lynne Gettings said: “We are delighted with the many successes of our Year 11 students and congratulate them with pride.

“We have demonstrated progress across the ability range with an increase in A* and A grades in English, Geography and History, which breaks previous records.

“We are particularly proud that our GCSE results have held strong and stable against the national predictions of volatile results and shocks following significant changes to the exam system over the last 12 months.”