HUNDREDS of students last Thursday took the dreaded walk back to school as nerves were running high, when GCSE results were announced. Students from Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow received positive results with significant improvements in A* to C

HUNDREDS of students last Thursday took the dreaded walk back to school as nerves were running high, when GCSE results were announced.

Students from Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow received positive results with significant improvements in A* to C grades from previous years.

However Felsted Secondary School were slightly down on last year's results, with a three per cent drop from 95 per cent to a commendable 92 per cent.

Headmaster Stephen Roberts commented on the schools achievements, saying, "The reasoning behind the slight drop in results is due to the variations in ability regarding the students this year."

He added: "Most of the students will be continuing to A level or the International Baccalaureate at Felsted and they clearly have a good foundation for this."

Nevertheless both schools exceeded the national average of 62.4 per cent for A* to C grades.

Two students in particular found the receiving of their GCSE grades a most pleasurable experience, with both achieving straight A*'s in all of their 10 subjects.

Jessica Pratt and Emma Hance were the exceptional performers and were most pleased with their achievements.

Alisa Crisp was yet another high achiever, who managed to gain 9A* and 1A grade. She said: "I really didn't expect to do that well. The most I was expecting was 7A*. We've got a big party on Saturday to celebrate."

Helena Romanes recorded equally encouraging results with a nine per cent increase from last years 53 per cent A* to C pass rate.

Ruth Bayliss was one of those who helped achieve this improvement. The Helena Romanes student achieved 9A*s and 2A grades saying "I was really excited with my results and I was certainly not expecting to do as well as I have done."

Other top performers included Ben Moseley, with his 7A*s and 4As and Matthew Large, who received equally exceptional results with 5A*'s and 6A grades.

Head teacher Simon Knight said: "I am absolutely delighted. All the students' and teachers' hard work and parental support has culminated in a hugely successful set of results."

He added: "The foundations are firmly set in place to continue on this improvement over the years.