STUDENTS, staff and parents were all celebrating top notch GCSE results in Nantwich, last week.

At Brine Leas High School, almost 70 per cent gained 5 or more high grades.

Head teacher Mike Butler paid tribute to his staff after a near 10 per cent improvement on last year's results.

Robert Mottram earned 12 A* and A grades while Calico Heyslop, Rosemary Martin, Sarah Large, Tom Pearson and Sanjivi Krishnan all achieved 10 A*/A grades.

All 25 students to take maths a year early also impressively passed with A* or A.

"In view of the national focus on gender difference at GCSE it is interesting to note that at Brine Leas high achievement is shared between boys and girls," said Mr Butler.

All students passed more than one GCSE and the school's Specialist College of Technology status was also reflected.

Almost every student gained the school's double technology award, which means they gained qualification in both Design Technology and ICT in addition to the full range of other subjects.

"This year's results show that we are meeting the needs of our students and preparing them for success in a technological society," continued Mr Butler.

Malbank saw an unbeatable 100 per cent achieve five or more passes and over 60 per cent gained five or more high grade results.

Amongst the School's numerous high-achievers are David Sutton, Matthew Taylor, Emma Bailey, Stacey Bennett, Emily Broomhall, Jennifer Crawford, Claire Guest, Rebecca Hall, Louise Laurie, Sarah Moorhouse, Stephanie Wakefield, Estelle Woolley and Naila Yousuf, who each included nine or more passes at A* or A grade passes amongst their results.

David Sutton was awarded one of the top five marks in the country in Electronics.

Headteacher Allan Kettleday said: "It is great to see so many young people with strings of high-grade passes and an extraordinary achievement for every single student to have gained at least five GCSEs.

"This means that no-one has left without nationally-recognised qualifications and that students who wish to continue their education will be able to do so. Most of these will enter the Sixth Form College at Malbank."