Schools across the Norwich area saw mixed GCSE results with some celebrating an increase in students achieving the benchmark of five A*-C grades including English and maths while others reported a decrease.

Eastern Daily Press: Students from Norwich School celebrate after collecting their GCSE results this morning. Pictured: L-R – Ben Crane, Matthew Jefford, Frederique Briscol, Lucy Berwick, Emily Toms, Mamiroro Emore and Rosie Wright. Photo: Keith WhitmoreStudents from Norwich School celebrate after collecting their GCSE results this morning. Pictured: L-R – Ben Crane, Matthew Jefford, Frederique Briscol, Lucy Berwick, Emily Toms, Mamiroro Emore and Rosie Wright. Photo: Keith Whitmore (Image: © Keith Whitmore +44 (0)7785 354701)

Among the schools celebrating was Ormiston Victory Academy which marked the occasion with a ceremony where pupils picked up their results in gold envelopes before opening them together in the school hall.

Principal Rachel de Souza told the students they were the 'best-ever performing year 11 that this school has ever had'.

'The year before we opened in 2010, 38pc of students gained five A*-C GCSEs including maths and English, this year 75pc of you have, and that is a massive improvement,' she said. 'It is absolutely amazing what you have done.'

This year's 75pc for five A*-C grades including maths and English compared with 68pc in 2012. For five A*-Cs in all subjects the Ormiston achieved 99.5pc, up on last year's 96.8pc.

Thorpe St Andrew School celebrated a rise in pupils achieving five A*-Cs including maths and English – 72.1pc compared with 68pc. The percentage of this year's Thorpe pupils gaining five A*-C grades in all subjects was 91.6pc compared with 93.5pc last year.

Norwich School repeated last year's success with all GCSE students achieving five A*-Cs including maths and English.

Norwich High School for Girls saw 96.8pc of students achieve five A*-C grades including English and maths, compared with 96pc in 2012. For five A*-Cs in all subjects it was 96.8pc this year and 98pc last year.

Among the schools reporting a decrease in the number of pupils achieving five A*-Cs including English and maths was City Academy which reported 22pc – compared with 41pc last year.

For five A*-C grades in all subjects, it was 33pc, compared with 61pc last year.

Open Academy's five A*-C including English and maths results were 35pc – a decrease from last year's 40pc.

For five A*-Cs in all subjects, Open reported 76pc versus last year's 75pc.

Hewett School reported 42pc compared with last year's 51pc. Figures for five A*-C in all subjects were unavailable.

Hellesdon High reported 64.4pc of students gained five A*-Cs including English and maths compared with 72pc in 2012. Figures for five A*-Cs in all subjects remained at 85pc.

At Sprowston Community High, 50pc achieved five A*-Cs including English and maths, down from last year's result of 56pc.

Sixty-two per cent achieved five A*-C grades in all subjects whereas last year the figure was 68pc.

At City of Norwich School 59pc of pupils earned five A*-Cs including English and maths, versus 64pc in 2012.

Seventy-four per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades in all subjects – down on last year's 80pc.

Notre Dame had no comparable figures available from last year but this year the school recorded 62pc of pupils gaining five A*-C grades including English and maths.

Some 74pc attained five A*-C grades in all subjects.

Last year, 79pc of pupils reached this target.