SCHOOL pupils across York and North Yorkshire were finding out their GCSE grades today - and early figures emerging across the area showed much to celebrate.

At Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick, York, head teacher Hugh Porter said 70 per cent of passes were at grades A* to C. He said 64 per cent of pupils had got five passes at grades A* to C, the indicator which is used in the league tables published later this year.

Other early figures across the area showed Fulford School getting its best GCSE results ever, with 75.1 per cent of pupils getting five passes at grades A* to C, and Manor CE School getting 69 per cent similar grades.

The pass rate nationally was up slightly, by 0.5 per cent to 57.1 per cent of passes at grades A* to C, and up 0.3 per cent to 16.1 per cent at A/A*. But the overall pass rate at grades A to G remains the same at 97.9 per cent.

Girls are still doing better than boys, but boys are closing the gap slightly.

Girls did better by 5.3 per cent at A*/A (no change from 2000), by 8.9 per cent at grades A* to C (down 0.3 per cent) and by 0.7 per cent at grades A* to G (no change).

Heads and teachers were very encouraged by the first signs for years that boys were taking their studies more seriously.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "We may be seeing the first signs that the lad culture which has pervaded for far too long is on the wane."

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Maybe boys are doing better at combining their studies with enjoyment, maybe they've learnt a lesson from girls and are working out a better balance.

"They will have spotted the importance of studying for qualifications which provide for a better life in the future, rather than just enjoying themselves now."

There were big rises in the numbers doing information technology and Spanish, while entries fell nearly five per cent in home economics.

Among those waiting to get their results was Prince Harry, who is a pupil at Eton College.

He will be getting them through the post and in addition to the exams he took this summer, the prince also took a number - probably two - last year.

St James's Palace refused to say which subjects he was awaiting results in. A spokesman said: "The results are an entirely private matter."

Five pages of local GCSE results will appear in tomorrow's Evening Press.

Updated: 10:14 Thursday, August 23, 2001