Nervous teenagers across Richmond will head to their schools to pick up their GCSE results today.
After years of hard work, the wait is finally over for thousands of pupils in the borough who will find out if they have achieved the grades they hoped for.
Teddington School achieved their best ever GCSE results this year, with 78 per cent of students achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths.
A total of 57 students got eight or more A* or A grades, with three students, Lily Vie, Daniel Martin and Timothy Davidson, achieving 11 A*s each.
John Wilkinson, headteacher at Teddington School, said: "I am absolutely delighted for the students. They have achieved very highly at the school and we are very proud of them.
"I am grateful for the support of families, staff and governors in helping make these successes possible."
Students and staff alike at Grey Court School, Ham, were celebrating after 78 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades including English and maths.
In English and maths, nearly 90 per cent of students met their nationally-expected targets, with more than half of students exceeding their targets by a whole grade.
Among the top achievers was Johann Zeuner Griffiths who gained 10 A*s, 4 As, an A at A/S-level and a B in maths level 3.
Student Mabel Baxter-Dalrymple also scored top grades, with 10 A*s, 3 As and a B at A/S-level.
Maggie Bailey, headteacher of Grey Court School, said: "The results we see today round off another amazing year for Grey Court School.
"The ultimate reward for us all was to see the delight on the faces of students who have reached their considerable potential."
Jinny Wang and Kate Bolshaw from Lady Eleanor Holles School
At Lady Eleanor Holles School (Lehs), nearly 95 per cent of grades awarded were A*s or As, with 78 per cent of pupils achieving 10 passes at A* and A grade.
Pupil Kate Bolshaw, who achieved 10 A* grades, said: "I am almost lost for words with my results but incredibly happy."
Headmistress Gillian Low said: "I am extremely proud of the way that our pupils have embraced the whole Lady Eleanor Holles experience, combining academic success with a diverse array of extra-curricular activities.
"These girls will be great ambassadors for the sixth form when they return in September to embark on their A-level studies and university preparations."
Pupils at Hampton Academy were all smiles this morning
At Hampton Academy, 48 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades passes including English and maths, an increase of 2 per cent on last year.
The school said there had been a significant improvement in their English language results after two disappointing years, with 67 per cent of students gaining a top grade pass.
Principal Dr Sue Dermont said: "In a year where schools had been warned to expect volatile GCSE results, we are very pleased to have secured an improvement on last year’s performance, dramatically so in English.
"Our students and staff worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and deserve their successes."
Waldegrave School students were happy with their results
Waldegrave School were also pleased with their success after the number of A* grades handed out increased and 83 per cent of students gained five or more A* to C grades including maths and English.
Philippa Nunn, headteacher of Waldegrave School, said: "Students and staff have worked extremely hard to achieve these results. I am so proud of what the students have achieved, they have been supported so well by the staff at Waldegrave. Staff and students should be congratulated for this fantastic set of results."
Students at Richmond Park Academy (RPA) excelled in single sciences, art, history and religious studies.
After a challenging year following reforms to the GCSEs, RPA had a 72 per cent pass rate at grades A* to C in English.
All students achieved A* to C grades in chemistry and physics and a third of students who took chemistry and half of those who took physics achieved an A* or A grade.
The school said one student’s history marks were so high, they believed he would be in the top 2 per cent nationally.
There were plenty of smiling faces at Orleans Park
Orleans Park maintained high standards across the board once again, with more than 80 per cent of students achieving at least 5 A* to C grades.
Elaine Ball, headteacher said: "This is another fantastic set of results. The students at Orleans Park continue to work very hard under the guidance of our committed and highly skilled staff to achieve this level of success.
"I’m proud of every one of our student’s achievements this year and delighted that a significant number of our students have decided to stay at Orleans Park to continue their studies in our new sixth form, which will open in September 2014."
Just some of the top achievers at Hampton School
Students, staff and parents at Hampton School were delighted with the schools results, with four boys achieving 11 A* grades and 40 achieving at least 9 A*s.
James Cai, a gifted musician, collected his results with his father and discovered he was among those to gain 11 A*s.
James said: "I’m absolutely thrilled and can’t quite believe it. I was so nervous opening the envelope that my hands were shaking. I am so relieved - it couldn’t have gone any better."
Results were strong across all subjects, with 16 out of 17 pupils who took Mandarin Chinese achieving A* and the 17th gaining an A.
Kevin Knibbs, headmaster of Hampton School, said: "The boys have worked very hard indeed and they can all be proud of their efforts, but I particularly congratulate James Cai and the other three boys on their extraordinary feat of securing 11 A* grades - the first time four Hamptonians have managed this."
Staff and students were also smiling at Twickenham Academy, where 37 per cent of all students achieved grades at A* and A.
Tracy Ward, principal of Twickenham Academy, said there was a "significant improvement in attainment" this year.
Results in full (2013 in brackets)
Christ’s School
A*: 11.8 per cent (6 per cent)
A: 21 per cent (19 per cent)
B: 22 per cent (25 per cent)
C: 24.65 per cent (26.1 per cent)
D: 13.4 per cent (12.3 per cent)
E: 4.6 per cent (5.9 per cent)
F: 1.3 per cent (2.9 per cent)
G: 0.8 per cent (0 per cent)
U: 0.6 per cent (0 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 80 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 99.4 per cent
Grey Court School
A*: 8.4 per cent (8.5 per cent)
A: 19.8 per cent (17 per cent)
B: 24.8 per cent (23 per cent)
C: 24.7 per cent (28.9 per cent)
D: 12.7 per cent (10.7 per cent)
E: 5.3 per cent (6.1 per cent)
F: 1.7 per cent (1.9 per cent)
G: 1.1 per cent (1.6 per cent)
U: 1.6 per cent (2.3 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 78 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 99 per cent
Hampton Academy
A*: 4 per cent (6 per cent)
A: 10 per cent (14 per cent)
B: 19 per cent (19 per cent)
C: 34 per cent (33 per cent)
D: 16 per cent (14 per cent)
E: 9 per cent (8 per cent)
F: 4 per cent (4 per cent)
G: 2 per cent (1 per cent)
U: 2 per cent (1 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 67 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 98 per cent
Hampton School
A*: 54.44 per cent (57 per cent)
A: 32.83 per cent (32.5 per cent)
B: 11.35 per cent (10 per cent)
C: 1.28 per cent (0.3 per cent)
D: 0.1 per cent (0.1 per cent)
E: 0 per cent (0.1 per cent)
F: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
G: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
U: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 99.9 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 100 per cent
Lady Eleanor Holles School
A*: 71.19 per cent (71.86 per cent)
A: 23.63 per cent (23.29 per cent)
B: 4.69 per cent (4.47 per cent)
C: 0.40 per cent (0.29 per cent)
D: 0 per cent (0.10 per cent)
E: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
F: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
G: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
U: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 100 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 100 per cent
Orleans Park School
A*: 10 per cent (10 per cent)
A: 18 per cent (22 per cent)
B: 27 per cent (28 per cent)
C: 26 per cent (22 per cent)
D: 12 per cent (10 per cent)
E: 4 per cent (5 per cent)
F: 2 per cent (2 per cent)
G: 1 per cent (0.5 per cent)
U: 0.1 per cent (0.5 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 81 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 99.9 per cent
St Catherine’s School
A*: 20 per cent (18 per cent)
A: 33 per cent (32 per cent)
B: 33 per cent (27 per cent)
C: 13 per cent (16 per cent)
D: 2 per cent (6 per cent)
E: 0 per cent (1 per cent)
F: 0 per cent (1 per cent)
G: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
U: 0 per cent (0 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 98 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 100 per cent
Teddington School
A*: 14.3 per cent (12.3 per cent)
A: 23.6 per cent (19.7 per cent)
B: 25.7 per cent (23.8 per cent)
C: 20.9 per cent (23.7 per cent)
D: 10.2 per cent (11.9 per cent)
E: 3 per cent (5.8 per cent)
F: 1.5 per cent (2 per cent)
G: 0.6 per cent (0.5 per cent)
U: 0.3 per cent (0.3 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 85 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 99.7 per cent
Twickenham Academy – grade breakdown unavailable
Overall pass rate A* to C: 54 per cent including English and maths
Overall pass rate A* to G: 82.9 per cent
Waldegrave School for Girls
A*: 19.2 per cent (17.7 per cent)
A: 28.1 per cent (28.2 per cent)
B: 22.1 per cent (27.7 per cent)
C: 18.9 per cent (16.9 per cent)
D: 6.9 per cent (4.5 per cent)
E: 3 per cent (1 per cent)
F: 1.1 per cent (2.7 per cent)
G: 0.4 per cent (0.2 per cent)
U: 0.4 per cent (1 per cent)
Overall pass rate A* to C: 86 per cent
Overall pass rate A* to G: 99.6 per cent
While today will be a day of celebration, inevitably there will be some who did not get the results they were hoping for.
If you do not gain the grades you expected, the Ucas exam results helpline (0808 100 8000) is open to offer support and advice to students.
We’re looking for great GCSE results stories. Get in touch with your story and pictures by emailing laura.proto@london.newsquest.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6395
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