ST HELENS students were reflecting on their varying degrees of success last week as GCSE exams were announced.

The percentage of students achieving passes at GCSE (grades A to G) was at an all time high of 89.2 per cent, although there was a slight dip in the average number achieving passes at grades A to C, standing at 45.2 per cent, marginally below the 45.6 percentage in 2001. St Helens Council says some schools achieved exceptional results this year showing improvements of up to seven per cent in passes at grades A to C.

The Council added some schools had more "mixed results" but singled out the grades of Parr High School, which closed its doors last month and is currently being demolished.

A paragraph in a St Helens Council news release reads: "Other schools have achieved more mixed results and Parr High in particular has suffered a fall in its pass rate at A to C with only 14 per cent of students achieving five A* to C grades."

The decision to close Parr High was taken by a school organisation committee last year. St Helens Council says the decision involved a variety of reasons but was primarily down to falling pupil numbers.

Meanwhile, Susan Richardson praised the GCSE results of pupils in St Helens.

"I would like to congratulate all the young people and thank all the teaching staff who have worked really hard to achieve these results, " she said. "I am pleased at the areas of improvement and I am sure that schools will continue to work hard to further improve their A to C pass rates next year."

Councillor Andy Bowden, executive member for lifelong learning, said: "I would like to add my congratulations to all the young people who have worked really hard to achieve the best possible grades and to thank teaching staff for their efforts.."