STAFF and pupils at Woodford Lodge High School have expressed delight with this year's many GCSE successes.

The trend of improving results year on year continued with 81 per cent of pupils gaining five passes at grades A to G.

And the school received a further boost with the news that their star performers will be staying on to study A-levels at the sixth form college.

Steve Meeks expressed satisfaction at the end of his first year in charge as headteacher, saying: "I am delighted that so many pupils have been awarded the grades they deserve.

"At Woodford Lodge, a range of strategies are employed to meet individual needs and assist pupils through the GCSE programme.

"I am happy that the hard work put in by pupils and staff has been rewarded, enabling pupils to pursue their chosen academic and vocational careers."

Of the many outstanding individual performances, 39 pupils gained nine A to G grades and 11 gained nine A to C grades, with the top five registering a total of eight A* passes, 23 As and 14 Bs between them.

Geraldine Straker topped the list with an impressive four A* passes, four As and one B. Her only problem now is deciding which subjects to continue studying at the school.

She said: "I'm very happy with the results but I don't know what A-levels I want to do yet.

"It's a brilliant school and I want to thank all the teachers for all their help and support. "

Further success came with Rebecca Ellison, who achieved one A*, six As and two Bs, and James Telfer and Margaret Luong both gaining one A*, four As and four Bs.

Mark Boughey kept up an impressive family tradition a week after his brother Phillip scooped four straight As in his A-levels, by rattling up one A*, five As and three Bs.

Mark, however, has no ambition to follow his brother into the world of mechanical engineering, preferring the sports hall to the science lab.

He said: "I got my A* in PE which is my best subject and what I'd like to go into eventually.

"I did aim to beat my brother's GCSE results but I didn't quite do as well as him."

He also echoed the sentiments of fellow pupils who have taken the decision to study in their home town.

He added: "There's no point going miles away to do GCSEs and A-levels when there's a really good school here in Winsford.

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