STUDENTS and staff in North Essex are celebrating after another successful year of GCSE results.

St Benedict’s Catholic College are celebrating an impressive boost in results.

A total of 68 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades in English and Mathematics, a seven per cent hike from last year.

Principal Jo Santinelli said: “As always, we are very proud of the efforts made by our young people, many of whom have achieved outstanding and well-deserved results.

“I would also like to acknowledge the great efforts made by their teachers and other staff to support them academically and in all other ways during their time with us.”

Thomas Lord Audley also saw a significant rise with 54 per cent of pupils meeting the required benchmark, up from 35 per cent last year.

Headteacher Helena Boast said: “Earlier this year we achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted inspection which confirmed that we are seeing a pattern of improved achievement in all year groups in the school and this is reflected in the improved results this year.”

Pupils at Brightlingsea's Colne Community School are celebrating a massive improvement in grades.

The school says 69 per cent of students achieving five A*-C grades including English and Maths - up more than 10 per cent on last year’s figure.

Executive principal Nardeep Sharma said: "It has been another fantastic year for so many of the students. They have worked incredibly hard and rightly deserve to celebrate.

“Despite the Government raising the bar, changes in education policy, reduction in school funding and the constant tinkering with examinations boundaries, the school has remained on a highly positive trajectory.”

At St Helena School, 48 per cent of pupils achieved the required results, which was up from 40 per cent last year.

Honywood Community Science School in Coggeshall saw a jump in achievement with 70 per cent gaining five or more GCSEs including grade C or above in both English and maths – up ten per cent on last year.

Philip Morant maintained its rate of 68 per cent of students meeting the standard, and headteacher Catharine Hutley said: “We are delighted with another year of excellent results.

“It is the progress of the students from their starting points that make us most proud.”

Thurstable School in Tiptree retained their ratio of 73 per cent of pupils meeting the benchmark.

Headteacher Miles Bacon said: “These are another excellent set of results, and I am delighted for our students, parents, staff and community.”

The Stanway School pupils saw a minor decrease in their results.

Results were similar at The Gilberd School who went from 68 per cent to 64.

Half of pupils at Colchester Academy got five A* to C grades including English and Maths, which is eight per cent less than last year.

Students at Colchester County High School for Girls followed up the best results in their history with similarly impressive figures as 88% of grades were at A or A* levels.

Some 99 per cent of the Colchester Royal Grammar School pupils achieved a five A*to C grades including English and Maths.

Headteacher John Russell said: "Our percentage is slightly down on last year but that was partly expected because of the changes but overall we are very happy.”

79 per cent of pupils at Colchester High School met the required standard and a total of 85% of the 54 St Mary’s candidates achieved a minimum of five A* to C passes including English and Maths.

There was a 100% pass rate in 13 subjects – Art, Biology, Chemistry, German, History, Italian, Music, Photography, Physics, PE, RE, Statistics and Textiles.