Beccles GSCE pupils are celebrating after both of the town's high school's improved on previous performances.

%image(14762369, type="article-full", alt="Head girl Lily Taylor with her GCSE results at Beccles Free School. Photo: Simon Lee, Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust.")

Beccles Free School attained 61pc grade four or above grades in English and maths, meaning pupils beat last year's results where 47pc achieved the equivalent A* to C.

Nigel Youngman, headteacher, said: 'I am delighted with the progress that our students have made and we are very pleased that many students achieved top grades of seven, eight and nine.

%image(14762370, type="article-full", alt="Jakk Jackson, 15, of Beccles Free School. Photo: Simon Lee, Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust.")

'The results reflect the hard work of our students, the commitment of our staff and supportive parents.'

One of the school's biggest success stories was head girl Lily Taylor. Her hard work earned her a level nine in English language, seven in English literature and level eight in maths, plus four A*s, an A and a B.

%image(14762371, type="article-full", alt="Pupils from Sir John Leman High School, collect their GCSE results. Photo: James Carr.")

Jakk Jackson, 15, was pleased with his results despite a challenging year which saw him regularly travel to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to receive treatment for his irregular heartbeat.

He achieved grade seven in English literature and level five in both English language and maths, plus three Bs and two Cs.

%image(14762372, type="article-full", alt="Laura Ellis, 16, achieved the highest set of GCSE qualifications from Sir John leman High School, Beccles. Photo: James Carr.")

Jakk said: 'The school has been so supportive. They would hold extra lessons after school and on the weekend.

'I missed a lot of time off school and the extra support helped me keep on top of it and get the grades I got.'

%image(14762373, type="article-full", alt="Holly Smith, 16, of Sir John Leman High School was "thrilled" with her results.. Photo: James Carr.")

Sir John Leman High School received 68pc grade four or above in English and maths - a 3pc increase on last year, with 65pc previously attaining A* to C.

Headteacher Michael Taylor said: 'I would like to congratulate the students and staff who have worked phenomenally hard together.

%image(14762374, type="article-full", alt="Hobart High pupils Abbie Silk, Regan Clarke, Abbie Humphries and Alicia Gray celebrate their GCSE results. Picture: David Hannant")

'They have enjoyed the support of parents and families to achieve this brilliant set of results in 2017.

'Our figure of 68pc highlights some outstanding individual performances and a real commitment to achieve.'

%image(14712726, type="article-full", alt="Langley School students picking up their GCSE results. Photo : Steve Adams")

Mr Taylor highlighted the achievements of Laura Ellis who received the school's highest set of qualifications. She attained grade nine results for English literature and maths, and eight for English language. Laura also managed to secure six A*s and two As.

She said: 'I am relieved more than anything. I'm really pleased and happy with my results.'

%image(14762375, type="article-full", alt="Langley School students picking up their GCSE results. Photo : Steve Adams")

Bungay High School

More than half of the pupils at Bungay High School achieved level four or above in English and maths, marking what the school's headteacher described as a 'consistent journey of improvement'.

%image(14762376, type="article-full", alt="Langley School students picking up their GCSE results. Fellow kayakers Tim dowden and James How, right. Photo : Steve Adams")

Out of the 184 pupils sitting the exams, 56pc achieved above grade four in the two key subjects, with three achieving A*, A or above level seven in all their GCSEs.

Headteacher Angelo Goduti said: 'We are extremely proud of the progress which our students make in the five years that they are with us.

%image(14762377, type="article-full", alt="Langley School students picking up their GCSE results. Photo : Steve Adams")

'Despite the significant changes to examinations, the improvement in students' progress in English and Maths alongside their other subjects has been sustained.

'The governors and I would like to pass on our congratulations to the students, staff and parents on the result achieved this year.'

Mia O'Hanlon, Brindley O'Connell and Sophie Marler were the school's top achievers.

Hobart High School

Pupils at Hobart High School did their school proud this year, recording significantly higher outcomes than the previous cohort.

78pc of children in total achieved above a grade four in English and maths, compared with 65pc achieving A* to C last year.

Headteacher Jim Adams said: 'All the staff are thrilled with the result and we have exceeded all of our targets, which is fantastic.

'It is always difficult adopting a new marking scheme as there is no point of reference as to what each mark looks like, but our staff and students dealt with this with incredible professionalism.'

Abbie Humphries, 16, was among the school's highest achievers, reaching grade nine in English and level eight in maths - complemented by six A*s and three A grades. She is now hoping to pursue a career in medicine.

Langley School

A pupil achieving the equivalent of ten A/A* grades a year early was among the success stories at Langley School.

Jabez Cooke was fast-tracked into Year 11 due to his academic progress and was one of the school's highest achievers, as pupils produced a slight improvement on last year's overall results.

A total of 73pc of pupils achieved grade four or above in both English and maths, compared to 72pc gaining A* to C in last year's marks.

Dominic Findlay, headmaster, said: 'We are

so pleased for all our

students and staff on achieving some of our best ever GCSE grades.

'Our A* percentage increased to 16pc, alongside our A*/A figure, which has risen to 41pc from 40pc, which is an incredible achievement considering the new format faced by students.'

Other success stories include Year 11 pupil Ella Baragwanath, who counts Chinese among her nine A* and A grades.