WHETHER it would end in cries of delight or disappointment, trembling hands tore open results envelopes during GCSE results day at King Alfred School last week.

Year 11 pupils burst through the school gates on Thursday morning, nervously awaiting the publication of results to determine two years of study.

Most of the hardworking students were richly rewarded - with 51% achieving passes at grade C or above - in a set of results that featured some standout individual grades.

The Highbridge school saw a 2% drop on last year's passes at A to C, but staff and students were still delighted by some terrific achievements.

Keith Diffey, head teacher at King Alfred School, told the Weekly News the school was happy with the grades, and highlighted some “outstanding” performances from top performing students.

Sarah Banham, Annabelle Frost, William Tasker and Kieran Tippet all scored eight As and A stars, while Alicia Wensley, Lauren Shipway and Katy McMahon all secured seven As and A stars.

Keith added: “We are very pleased with this year's results.

“The students have worked extremely hard and we are delighted to share in their success.

“They are a good year group and GCSE's are not easy - there is a lot of coursework involved - and all the students can feel proud.”

Among those singled out for praise was Adam Walter, who, watched on by his proud dad John, opened his results to discover he had achieved two A stars and six As.

He told the Weekly News: “I was a bit surprised with some of the results I got - but I was really pleased with them.”

Adam now joins a list of others at the school hoping to continue on at the sixth form at King Alfred.