THE last students to take their GCSE exams at Queen Anne School in York were among pupils celebrating their results across the region today.

The national results showed the number of GCSEs at grades A* to G is the same as last year at 97.9 per cent, with the percentage of passes at grades A* to C going up by nearly one per cent from last year to 56.6 per cent.

They also showed again that girls do better than boys.

Queen Anne School closed in the summer after 90 years.

Headteacher Christine Priestley said today: "Everyone has worked hard under what have been difficult circumstances over the last year and I am very proud and pleased.

Results revealed early today suggested another bumper year for York and North Yorkshire.

Carole Wood, acting head at Easingwold School, said 72.4 per cent of pupils gained five or more passes at A* to C, and judged by this measurement, the school's results were its best ever.

Francis Loftus, head at Barlby High School in Selby, said the number of A* grades were up, girls had done better than boys, and that three pupils who lived within 200 yards of each other in North Duffield had got 28 As and A*s between them.

David Lloyd, examinations officer at King James' School in Knaresborough, said it was their best year ever with 75 per cent of all grades between A* and C.

Steve Fearnley, deputy head at Malton School, said the percentage of entries gaining a C grade or above was 58 per cent.

Scarborough College and St Peter's School in York, reported pass rates at A* to C of 89.1 per cent and 99 per cent respectively, and Bootham School in York saw 18 pupils getting ten or more A and A* grades.

PICTURE: Donna Shaw, David Starkey, Andrew Deighton and Nicola Brady with their GCSE results at Queen Anne School in York today

Picture: Steven Bradshaw