A BARRY headteacher has ended his term of office at his school with every GCSE pupil in his charge gaining formally recognised qualifications.

Bryn Hafren Comprehensive headteacher Phil Whitcombe said: “Bryn Hafren is celebrating excellent GCSE results again this year. Every pupil that has left Bryn Hafren has a formally recognised GCSE or equivalent with over 97 percent gaining at least five GCSEs. An amazing 93 percent gained five of the higher grade GCSEs.”

He added there had been an across-the-board improvement with maths results – a subject traditionally do better at – and English results – where girls traditionally out-perform boys – were up five percent.

16-year-old Erin Allwood, of Barry, who gained 9 GCSEs – one A*, four As, 3 Bs and 1 C -said: “I’m really happy I got good grades. I put so much work into them and I’m really happy it’s paid off. I want to come back for my A-levels.”

Hannah Taylor, 16, who achieved 12 GCSEs including the Welsh Baccalaureate, added: “I’m very happy and it’s nice to know all my hard work paid off. I felt okay last night, but this morning!”

Fellow student, Elin Jenkins celebrated getting four A* GCSEs, four As and a C with her mum Jane and will return to the school to study for her A-levels.

She said: “I feel really good. I felt I had done okay and you think you’re going to do fine, but there’s a moment of panic when you think you’ve failed everything.”

Mum Jane added: “I’m thrilled. She was a bit stressed when she was sitting the exams, but we were confident.”

Headteacher Phil Whitcombe added: “It’s a nice way to sign out. I’m delighted we have left the school in such a positive way with good foundations which I feel (new headteacher) Tyrone Davies will build on.”