By Kelly Eve

Last updated 13:22, Thursday, 21 August 2008

THRILLED students around Cumbria are looking forward to a bright future this morning.

Rebekah Briggs opens her GCSE results at St Aidan’s in Carlisle

The tension of waiting for GCSE results was finally lifted for the 6,400 Cumbrian pupils who picked up their GCSE results this morning.

And early indications show that students in the area have once again set records tumbling with their results.

The tension, followed by joy, was summed up by 12 teenagers chatting nervously as the red Royal Mail van arrived outside St Aidan’s School in Carlisle at 8.40 this morning.

Hearts raced as they went on to rip open the envelopes with their results inside.

Beckah Briggs, 16, shrieked with delight and burst into tears when she discovered she got an A* in PE and three A grades, much better than she had expected. Her friend, Rosie Tickner also did much better than expected securing two A*, five As and two Bs. She now hopes to go on to sixth form.

Proud headteacher Martin Murphy announced they were among record results for the school where 48 per cent of students have got five A* - C.

The school was one of many around Cumbria announcing record results.

John McAuley, headteacher at Newman Catholic School in Carlisle said: “This year’s GCSE results are the best the school has achieved.

“We look forward to welcoming a large number of this year group into our Sixth Form to continue their education at Newman and we are immensely proud of our students’ achievements.”

The head of Austin Friars in Carlisle has announced that a record number of young scientists have got A*s. Pupils at the independent school in Etterby Scaur have the choice of doing science as a dual award or can sit separate exams in biology, physics and chemistry.

Pupils can take separate physics, chemistry and maths exams or a combined dual award.

Of those sitting individual exams, 93 per cent got an A*. The remaining seven per cent were not far behind, receiving As.

At a time when many schools are struggling with science, headmaster Chris Lumb said: “This is a stunning performance in science for the school. We are now looking forward to record numbers of students going on to study it at A-level.

“A combination of able and motivated students and high quality teaching, supported by the very best of modern laboratory facilities has produced such outstanding results.”

Success continued with three teenagers – Jonathan Barnsley, Jo Miles and Douglas Sloane - each getting nine A*s. Overall, 93 per cent of GCSE students at Austin Friars have clinched five or more A*-C passes.

There was success too for North Cumbria Technology College in Harraby, Carlisle, where provisional figures show that 52 per cent of year 11 pupils have picked up at least five top GCSEs.

They are the final exam results NCTC staff will ever hand out as the school prepares to officially close before the new Richard Rose Central Academy opens in less than two weeks’ time.

NCTC head Mark Yearsley, who becomes director of the central academy on September 1, said: “We are delighted with our provisional figures which show a five A*-C figure of 52 per cent. The figure is 26 per cent for those who have five A*-C including English and maths. They are the best the school has ever achieved.

“Students have worked hard, staff have worked hard and everyone has been well rewarded by this success. I’m particularly pleased that students have achieved so well despite the changes the school has been going through this year.

“It shows a real determination on the part of students and true professionalism on the part of staff. I’m proud to have been headteacher here, to have worked with staff, students and parents to bring about this success.

“To see NCTC close as a good school brings a real sense of satisfaction. Congratulations to all our students – they have worked hard and deserve our praise.”