GCSE students in Bradford have been opening their exam results this morning.

Several schools in the district are reporting their best GCSE results ever, with other schools set to announce their results later today.

The local picture is still emerging but, nationally, the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has fallen for the first time in the exam's history, official figures revealed today.

The results also show drops in the percentage of English, maths and science GCSE entries achieving passes at A*-C.

Today's national figures reveal that 69.4 per cent of all GCSE exams were given at least a C grade - down 0.4 percentage points on last summer.

It is the first time the A*-C pass rate has fallen in the 24-year history of GCSEs. The exams were first taught in 1986, with the first exams taken in 1988.

In Bradford, Challenge College is celebrating its best GCSE results ever.

The college, which opened in 2000, reported that the new ‘gold standard’ of 5 or more A*-C with maths and English language came in at 47 per cent - a 13 per cent rise from last year.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent of the year group achieved 5 or more A*-C grades compared to 65 per cent in 2010. T Sian Harris, headteacher at Challenge, said: “Our students’ achievements are backed up by the hard work of all the staff at the school.

“At Challenge, we recognise that learning is not just about memorising knowledge. It involved skills and attitudes that apply in all areas of life. We teach our students these skills and provide the opportunities for independent learning and reflection so students take responsibility for their own learning.”

Bradford Grammar School said this year’s GCSE results were the highest ever achieved by the school.

Not only have 93 per cent of papers passed with an A* A/B grade, a record-breaking 74 per cent gained an A*/A.

Headmaster, Kevin Riley said: “This terrific set of GCSE results rounds off a great series of public examination results this summer.

“BGS students achieved a school record of 74 per cent A*/A grades with 26 candidates achieving 8 or more A* grades.”

Feversham College is also celebrating its best ever set of GCSE results, with 59 per cent of students achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths. The school has seen an increase in the proportion of students achieving A*/A grades.
 

Clare Skelding, headteacher, said: “We are all delighted with the results achieved this year. Everyone has worked hard and tirelessly to ensure students are successful and well prepared for their next stage of learning.”