STUDENTS across Worcestershire are celebrating after picking up a positive set of GCSE results.

After weeks of nervous waiting, thousands of Year 11 students collected their results yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Initial figures reveal a positive picture for the county - with almost two thirds of students achieving top grades in English and maths.

The percentage of students gaining a C grade or above in both English and maths - the new benchmark measurement as of this year - has improved from 60.7 per cent in 2015 to 63.5 per cent this year.

The previous benchmark of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades including English and maths has now been dropped.

There were celebrations at Nunnery Wood High School in Worcester, where 79 per cent of students achieved five GCSEs graded A* to C, while 67 per cent attained five GCSEs at A* to C including maths and English.

Meanwhile, 84 per cent attained a C or higher in English and 71 per cent in maths.

Headteacher Steve Powell said: "We are delighted because they are equal to the school's highest results ever.

"They were a really wonderful year group, great support from parents and staff and I feel they have got exactly what they deserve.

"We are proud of our high attainers and 25 per cent of grades were A* or A, but the progress score shows that every student here achieved their very best and we are proud of every single one of them, no matter what they final grades.

"This has been a great ending to a terrific year."

At RGS Worcester 96.6 per cent of grades were at A* to C, while 56.8 per cent were A* or A grade. A third of the year group attained nine or more A* or A grades.

John Pitt, headteacher, said: "I am very proud of the pupils who have done so well academically whilst also making a tremendous contribution to wider school life and taking full advantage of all the opportunities that the school provides.

"These are very strong exam results from students who worked extremely hard. They are now well set up for their Sixth Form careers at RGS.

"Congratulations to all of the pupils and to the staff who have taught the pupils so well."

RGS student Nadiath Choudhury, achieved 11 A*s and is going to sixth form at Pates Grammar in Cheltenham.

The 16-year-old said: "I woke up really early this morning and checked my grades online at 8am. I was just ecstatic."

Wilfred Jenkins, who also studies at RGS, was celebrating his 10 A*s and one A.

He said: "I was pleased that I got an A* in English literature because I wasn't expecting it."

The 16-year-old from Worcester plans to stay at RGS and study maths, further maths, biology, chemistry and philosophy in sixth form.

Francine Bath, of RGS Worcester, was "happy" to find out she had attained nine A*s and two As at GCSE.

She said: "I looked at home - I was very nervous. I'm shocked but happy."

She will now go on to study biology, French, drama and English at RGS sixth form.

Nationally, GCSE results have seen a record year-on-year decline - falling to the lowest level since 2008.

The overall proportion of entries achieving A* to C has declined from 69% to 66.9%. Top A* grades have slipped from 6.6% to 6.5%.

But grades in England have fallen, while Northern Ireland’s results showed a slight improvement and grades in Wales stayed at the same level.

This has been blamed in part on more pupils in England being required to resit English and maths.

Cllr Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and families, said the changes mean comparisons to national figures and those from previous year are difficult to make at this stage.

"It is one of the council's priorities to ensure that schools continue to offer great outcomes for pupils in Worcestershire, and these results reflect the hard work and achievement of pupils, teachers and families throughout the county," he said.

"Due to a change in the way GCSE results are reported, it has been a challenge in Worcestershire and nationally to assess this year's results in the context of previous years.

"Using the new framework, it is fantastic to see an improvement on last year."

A detailed breakdown of results and comparisons with other local authorities and national averages will be available in October.