Hundreds of teenagers were delighted to get their GCSE results today which saw 58 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, an improvement of seven per cent from last year

Principal Chris Williams said: "This is really a day for our students and a great day to celebrate their tremendous work over the year.

"I know staff, mentors and parents here have put in such a lot to support and encourage students and it's good to see these well deserved successes.

"There's a great deal more to strive for at King Edward's but these are encouraging results and a decisive step forward for the school."

Highflying Sophie Gowans, one of the youngest girls in the year at 15, got all A*s to B and was almost speechless.

She said: "I'm absolutely gobsmacked about some of these results. I thought I had done really badly in some of these exams. I will be celebrating on Sunday when it's my birthday."

While all Alex Lambert (16) could say was: "I'm too overwhelmed, I've got to find my mum."

Modest Matt Fielding (16), who already had two As from last year, got an A*, six As, three Bs and a C.

He said: "I'm pretty happy and my mum's relieved. It has been a tough year so I'm going to celebrate somehow."

His mum Gail became swept up in the emotion of the day, hugging everyone within arms reach.

She said: "I was more nervous than he was this morning. I'm just really relieved, all that hard work he has put in has really paid off. I get a bit annoyed with people saying they are easier, they've all worked really hard."

High-achieving Hannah Linday (16) got nine A*s, three As and one B. She said: "It's been a hard slog this year but I can now got to college in West Bridgford. I would like to be a doctor in the future."

Abbie Bonshor got five Cs, two Bs and two As. She said: "I'm really pleased, I did better than I thought which means I can go Grantham College to study art."