STUDENTS collecting their GCSE results today (Thursday, August 20) have achieved the Vale of Glamorgan’s best ever grades.

Of students sitting WJEC GCSE exams 24.7 per cent achieved the highest grades of A or A*, up from 23.9 per cent last year. The proportion achieving A* to C grades increased to 73.4 per cent up from 70.9 per cent. In total 99 per cent of all pupils sitting this year’s WJEC examinations achieved A* to E grades.

The results from all examination boards also show more Vale students achieving five A* to C grades, including English/Welsh and maths, than ever before.

Sixty four per cent of students were awarded these grades, up from last year’s record breaking result of 62.2 per cent.

Three Vale schools secured their best ever results with more students than ever securing five A*to C grades, including English and maths.

Forty nine per cent of students at Barry Comprehensive School were awarded A* to C grades compared with 37 per cent last year.

While at Stanwell Comprehensive School in Penarth 87 per cent of pupils obtained these grades, up from 82 per cent last year.

Councillor Chris Elmore, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools, said: “I would like to congratulate all the young people who have worked so hard to achieve these results.

"I know just how much hard work it takes from students and their teachers to get good grades at GCSE.

“After the Vale’s record-breaking GCSE results in 2014 I am delighted that we have built on that success to secure even better results this year.”