students in the district have achieved outstanding GCSE results.

Pass rates generally were at least on a par with the national average, and in cases exceeded it.

Records were broken at South Craven School, Cross Hills, where the number of pupils obtaining five or more A*-C passes soared.

Deputy head David Birks said: "We are absolutely delighted with our results and congratulate students and staff on their achievements, which are the result of all their hard work and commitment.

"The proportion of students obtaining five or more A* to C passes increased by 8 per cent to 57 per cent, a record. Eighteen students achieved at least seven or more A*/A grades -- which is also a record -- with David Tickner gaining eight A*s and two As; Frances Dyson-Sutton eight A*s, an A and a B, and Jonathan Abbey seven A*s, two As and a B. The overall A* to G pass rate was 98 per cent.

"In Year 12, the GNVQ intermediate course in IT produced four merits."

The school is looking forward to welcoming a large number of students into the sixth form, encouraged by the record GCSE results, on registration day on Tuesday, at 8.30am."

At Greenhead High School, Utley, the percentage of year 11 students gaining five or more A*-C grades has risen by nearly 1 per cent to 22.4 -- the highest for five years.

Seventeen students gained nine or more A*-C passes.

The number of students gaining at least one GCSE has also risen, to 92 per cent.

Head teacher Tricia McCarthy said: "This is a time to celebrate the successes of many students, not only those who have achieved a number of A*-C passes but also those who do not find academic study easy but who have worked exceedingly hard to attain their results.

"We are encouraged by the small improvement made this year and the staff at Greenhead applaud the successes of so many students.

"We now look forward to welcoming many of them back into the Associated Sixth Form to gain further qualifications. All students should be proud of their achievements and build on these successes in whatever they choose for their future."

The overall pass rate at Keighley College was 95 per cent.

Angela Shaw, head of the faculty of business development and enterprise, said: "These results are particularly gratifying as most of our GCSE full-time students are re-sitting examinations which they have failed in the past.

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Pictured above: Greenhead High School students celebrate ... from left, Shamila Afgan, Farrah Nissa, Shamayla Ishaq, Naiyyar Iqbal and Natasha Ismail