SCREAMS of delight rang out in schools across Dorset this morning as students received their GCSE results.

At Ferndown Upper School, 75 per cent of pupils got grades 9 to 4 – previously A** to C.

Headteacher Philip Jones said: “I am very proud of the achievements of our students; they have received just reward for all their hard work.”

Poole High School celebrated its sixth consecutive year of ‘best ever’ results.

Head Paul Gray thanked “superb” staff for the achievement. “We are especially delighted with progress across the full suite of academic subjects, especially English, maths and science,” he said.

At Ringwood School, there were smiles and tears of joy from both parents and students.

“We are once again particularly delighted with GCSE science results, which have held firm after making a very significant improvement last year,” headteacher Leanne Symonds said.

Students from the Bourne Academy are going on to colleges and vocational courses. Jordan Granger-Smith has been offered an apprenticeship with Cobham, while Harry Hellenthal is to take a place at Westwind Engineering.

Principal Mark Avoth said: “Well done everyone.”

Bournemouth Collegiate School’s year 11 students have broken every GCSE record at the school. English literature and further mathematics achieved an 100 per cent pass rate, with a third of all grades awarded at A* to A.

Top student Molly Gadsdon, who will stay at the school next year to study biology, chemistry and physics, said: “I’m really proud of myself.” f

The headteacher of Ballard School in New Milton hailed students for their “exceptional” results. Andrew McCleave said an 100 per cent pass rate was achieved in “traditionally difficult physics”, while the pass rate was 97 per cent for English and maths.

“Ballard pupils are hard-working and resilient young people who aspire to achieve academically, and do so with humility and altruism,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate our students not only on their impressive GCSE results but also for their enormous contributions to our school. We firmly believe in an holistic education and we have been fortunate with the outstanding and inspiring community.”

At Poole Grammar School, 61.13 per cent of results were graded as a seven – an A in old money – or better, up from 55.75 per cent in 2018. Some 97.5 per cent achieved a pass.

Four students –Reuben Bennett, James Munday, Piers Tudberry-Swain and Jamie Winter – achieved 10 grade 9s and an A^ in further maths. with Spike Howarth, Sam Leggatt and David Storey achieved 10 Grade 9 or A^ grades.

Head Andy Baker said “We are delighted that this group of students has surpassed the excellent results achieved in recent years, and set some new school records.”

New Milton’s Arnewood School saw 65 per cent of its students achieved at least five 9-4 grades. Matilda Gleave, Ben Pang and Laura Alford were awarded 14 grade 9s between them.

Head Nigel Pressnell said: “What the headline figures do not show is that a large percentage of our middle ability students have exceeded their expected grades, and this is as much as an achievement in my eyes as receiving a grade 9.”

Pupils at St Peter’s School in Southbourne achieved the best results in the school’s history, with more than 80 per cent gaining a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.

Head David Todd, who will retire this year, said: “It has been a privilege and honour to lead such a wonderful community and heartening to leave St Peter’s as such a successful and thriving school.”

Students at St Edward’s School in Poole are also celebrating a record-breaking year. Some 75 per cent securing passes at grades 4 to 9 in English and maths.

Headteacher Michael Antram said: “We’re still celebrating the great success of our talented A-Level students, so to see the success of our GCSE students as well is fantastic for St Edward’s.”

“The students have clearly been very inspired by the well-rounded teaching approaches used by our teachers.”

St Aldhelm’s Academy student Aaron Read achieved grades 9 and 8 in combined science, a grade 7 in maths and a grade 6 in English and geography. He was also awarded a distinction in engineering. Alice Ghicavaia achieved a grade 9 in Spanish and Russian, along with a grade A in Portuguese, two grade 7s in science, a grade 6 in English and a distinction * in music.

Jy Taylor, the headteacher of Twynham School in Christchurch, said he is “absolutely delighted” with results. In total, 15 students gained the top grades for at least eight of their subjects.

Mr Taylor said “particular mention” should go to Vikki Stephenson-Shrubb, who gained grade 9s in 10 subjects. In total, 49 per cent of all students achieved a strong grade 5 in both English and maths, with 74 per cent achieving a grade 4 or higher.

Students at Parkstone Grammar School worked hard to achieve “outstanding results”, new headteacher David Hallsworth said. Some 99 per cent of students were awarded a pass grade of 4 to 9 in English and maths.

Bethan Gilbert and Sophie Phillips achieved nine grade 9s each. and Mia Hovell, Eloise Smith, Rebecca Pape and Sophie Stoate all achieved eight grade 9s.

A full cohort of 80 students took their exams at LeAF Studio in Bournemouth for the first time.

Stage and screen students excelled in GCSE dance and drama, with a third of the students achieving grade 7 or higher. There was an 11 per cent increase in students achieving grade 7 or higher in English.

Principal Nadine Lapskas said: “I am proud of so many individual success stories.”

Some 64 per cent of youngsters at Parkfield School, which is based in Hurn, achieved five “good grades”.

Executive principal Ian Golding said: “These results are a pleasing indicator of the positive changes we have made.

“They show that our recent improvements were not a one-off event.

“We have built a great team at Parkfield, and staff can be rightly proud of these outcomes.”

In total, 88 per cent of students at Glenmoor Academy achieved grades four or above in English and maths. The figure was 82 per cent at Winton Academy.

Principal Stuart Ingram said: “The students have worked incredibly hard all year and these results are a fitting reward.”

At Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne, the number of students obtaining the top grade 9s increased.

Corfe Hills students are also celebrating their best-ever GCSE results with a record number of grades 9, 8 and 7.

Four of the last five years at Highcliffe School have each produced the school’s best-ever GSCE results. Particularly strong results were achieved by students in English, maths and science.

Some 97 per cent of students at Bournemouth School achieved grades 5 to 9 in both English and maths.

Headmaster Dr Dorian Lewis said: “These are some excellent results - a testament to the hard work of our students and the support and encouragement that they received.”

Students at the Swanage School netted good results in physics, where 83 per cent passed, drama, which a pass rate of 77 per cent, and PE, where 71 per cent passed.

Lytchett Minster School head Andrew Mead said 76 per cent achieved grades 4 to 9 in both English and maths. “We are delighted that the hard work and dedication of our students and staff has been rewarded with these excellent results,” Mr Mead said.

Many students at Bishop of Winchester Academy exceeded their predicted grades. More are applying to the academy's sixth form for A-level and BTEC courses.

At The Grange School, 20 per cent of all grades achieved were 8, 9 or distinctions.

Some 54 per cent of girls at Avonbourne College achieved five or more good passes at grade 4 or above for subjects including English and maths.

Magna Academy students scored the best Attainment 8 score in the school's six-year history,

Pupils also achieved the highest-ever results for English and maths combined, with 67 per cent taking grades 4 to 9.

Vic principal Mr Potter said: "We are incredibly proud of our students and how hard they have worked to achieve these amazing results and we warmly congratulate all of them and their teachers.

"It has been a privilege to work with Year 11 this year, who have been a really fantastic group of students."