Students across Brecon and Radnorshire have been collecting their GCSE results today.

Crickhowell High School is celebrating as 84% of all Year 11 pupils received at least five A* to C grades at GCSE.

The school said that many of those who had achieved at least five GCSEs at A* to C had “very high grades” and that a significant number of students had achieved 13 GCSEs at A* to C.

The number of Crickhowell pupils who achieved higher grades in at least nine of their qualification has also increased with approximately 10% achieving ten or more A* or A grades.

The school also saw 84% of students achieve one or more GCSEs at A* to C in English and nearly 80% in Maths – both of which are higher than the Wales and Powys averages.

In Year 11, 23% of all students achieved five or more GCSEs at A* or A grade, with approximately 10% getting ten or more A* or As.

The school said it is also “delighted” as this year’s Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge results have improved from last year with 94% of pupils receiving the certificate.

Headteacher Jackie Parker said: “We are so very proud of our amazing students and it is a great privilege to celebrate these superb young people and their outstanding success.

“These impressive results reflect our consistently high academic standards, achieved year on year, whilst qualifications in Wales set more rigorous standards.

“We are particularly proud that all our Year Eleven students are leaving school with recognised qualifications including a significant number of students who have vastly outperformed their targets.

“We commend the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, parents and governors. We look forward to even better results next year.”

Ms Parker also said that the school is “thrilled” to see so many of the Year 11 students choosing to return to the high school for sixth form in September and that the school looks forward to welcoming new students from other schools who have chosen to attend Crickhowell’s Sixth Form.

Gwernyfed High School, in Three Cocks, was also celebrating its results which is says are “in line with school predictions”.

Notable top performers in their GCSEs were Ceryl Phillips with 11 A*s, Ollie Guinane and Roxanne Shaw who both gained nine A*s, and Amelie Williams with three A*s and eight As.

Other notable students include Ella Price, Ethan Gardiner and Jason Griffiths-Powell who all achieved at least four A*s.

Headteacher John Williams said: “What was noticeable about this year group was the most successful pupils had other interests such as sport, the arts or politics which allowed them to develop healthy work-life balance.

“For example when 45% of the year group achieve an A or A* in English Literature these young people have a love of books that will stay with them throughout their lives.

“As well as staying on at our successful high achieving sixth form Year 11 will be attending colleges in Merthyr, Brecon, Hereford and in Canada; Holme Lacy Agricultural College, obtain scholarships at public schools and start sporting apprenticeships. We wish them all every success.”

Meanwhile Ysgol Calon Cymru, which has a campus in Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells to replace both of the old high schools, has congratulated its Year 11 students on their GCSE success.

Acting headteacher Lee Powell mentioned its top performers included Gwen Reese who achieved 12 A*s and an A, Katie Hammonds who received nine A*s and two As, as well as Dominic Binks and Kieran Dobbins who both received 11 GCSEs at grades A* or A.

Mr Powell said: “Congratulations to all our Year 11 pupils on their GCSE results. We are very proud of all of our students with lots of really impressive individual achievements.

“The hard work of students and staff and the support of parents has been at the heart of these successes and we look forward to welcoming many of our students back to sixth form and we wish all students the very best for their future careers.”

Update – Ysgol Maesydderwen:

Year 11 students at Ysgol Maesydderwen are also celebrating their GCSE, Welsh Bacc and BTEC results.

Some of the school’s most successful students include: Ffion Morgan with eight A* and three As; Joshua Morgan with four A*s, eight As and a B; Ethel Yoro with 10 As and two Bs; Lorelle Bateman with one A*, six As, four Bs and a C; Holli Jones with one A*, three As, six Bs and a C; Thomas Griffiths with six As, a B and four Cs; Lauren Rothero with five As, six Bs and a C; and, Paige McNeish with four As, a BTEC Distinction*, six Bs and a C.

Headteacher Phil Grimes said: “Many congratulations to our Year 11 students on their examination results this year. There were some outstanding performances from individuals but all of our students deserve a huge amount of credit for their achievements right across the board.

“To see our students achieve under such intense pressure is delightful and we are very proud of them. This has been a real team effort between staff, parents, students and governors and I would like to thank them all for their hard work and support.”

 Mr Grimes said that many pupils have decided to continue their studies at the school’s sixth form where they are able to complete their A Levels, higher BTEC qualifications and their Welsh Baccs.

Update – Llandovery College:

Llandovery College is also celebrating today as its GCSE results demonstrate a “marked year on year improvement.”

The college uses the system, which was introduced in England last year, of grades 9-1. Grade 9 is equivalent to an A** and 8 is equivalent to an A.

This year 23% of pupils attained grades 9 to 7 and 77% at levels 9 to 4, which is equivalent to A* to C. The college said this significantly higher than the Welsh national average.

The highest achieving GCSE pupils in the college are Katie Fear and Ella Smith who between them gained the equivalent of 14 A*s and six As.

Interim warden Anna Sandford said: “I am incredibly proud of all our individual success stories and our results are testament to the hard work, dedication and talent of pupils and staff."

Incoming warden Dominic Findlay, who takes up his post in September, said: “I am looking forward to working with all these incredible pupils as they enter Sixth Form.”