ELY students have been celebrating success in their GCSEs, with some spectacular individual results and good overall grades. Witchford Village College continued its remarkable progress to record its best ever results, with 64 per cent of students receivi

ELY students have been celebrating success in their GCSEs, with some spectacular individual results and good overall grades.

Witchford Village College continued its remarkable progress to record its best ever results, with 64 per cent of students receiving five or more A* to C grades. The percentage has almost doubled from six years ago, and is above the national average, which was 62.4 per cent.

Principal, John Shield said: "We set very high standards at this college, and I want to see yet more improvements again next year. I'm very pleased with the direction that we are heading in, we have four students who are seriously looking into eventually going on to study at Oxford or Cambridge, and I can see us producing more of the same calibre in the future."

Amongst the star performers were Roger Goetze, who achieved 10 A*s and an A, Nicola Galley, who got eight A*s and four As, and Alex Chamberlain with seven A*s, four As and a B. All are going on to study A-levels at Hills Road in Cambridge.

City of Ely Community College had the second best results in its

history, with 46 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades. There was also a nine per cent increase from last year for those students achieving five or more A* to C grades in both English and Maths.

Principal, Ian Gartshore said: "Undoubtedly this is the best year in the history of the college for the number of students gaining the higher grades in these two important subjects. Given the national debate about the need to have students leaving school who are both literate and numerate, we are pleased that we have made such great progress in this important area."

Four years ago 34 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades at the college.

Among this year's high achievers were Amy Allen, who got nine A*s and four A grades, Mary Hucker, who achieved nine A*s, an A and a B, and Gemma Thompson, with three A*s, seven As and a B. All three are going on to study A-levels at Hills Road in Cambridge.

It was another successful year for the King's School in Ely. Nearly 60 per cent of students celebrated A* to C grades in 10 or more subjects, and 99 per cent achieved at least five A* to C grades, which is a three per cent improvement on last year.

Amongst the top performers were Helena Lendrum, who achieved 12 A grades, including eight A*s, and Becky East, who got six A*s, four As, and a two Bs.

Head of King's, Susan Freestone, said: "I am delighted to learn that so many pupils have achieved and exceeded their expectations. They thoroughly deserve their success."

Students at Soham Village College also enjoyed a very successful set of results. Every candidate gained a qualification, with 70.1 per cent achieving five A* to C grades. Retiring acting head, Dr David Lunn, said: "Myself and the teaching staff are very pleased and proud of the achievements of the year group.

"Soham's achievement of more than 70 per cent beat both national and local result targets.