"AT the end of our first year as a specialist Technology College, I am delighted to see this superb set of results," said Settle College principal Trevor Wear.

"Students have, indeed, performed particularly well in the 'technology' subjects (design, science and mathematics). Design and technology results are outstanding, with 80 per cent of grades being at C or better in this area.

"The new '21st century science' course has seen results improve in this area by more than 10 per cent and there has also been significant improvement in mathematics (nine per cent)."

103 students (61 per cent) achieved five or more grades at C or above and three have also achieved GCE AS passes in art and design.

This constitutes the best-ever set of results achieved by students at Settle College.

"Particular congratulations must go to Joseph Kelly and Jodie Millward, both of whom scored top grades in all of their GCSEs," said Mr Wear. "We also have a whole host of students achieving 10 or more grades A and B, all contributing to an outstanding performance by this year group.

"Well done to everybody concerned. Students and staff alike have worked extremely hard to produce these results."

ERMYSTED'S Grammar School is celebrating an improvement in its GSCE results.

Just under 95 per cent of pupils scored grades between A* and C and the number of A* and A grades are up.

Gianluca Consoli and Mark Clements earned 10 A* grades. Mark and fellow pupil Conor Cahill were in the top five marks for their exam board out of 47,000 candidates for English Literature.

Thomas Pascoe was in the top five for 138,000 French exam sitters.

The school achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in maths, going against the national trend of falling standards in maths.

Headteacher Tom Ashworth said the boys were pleased with their results and the majority would be returning to the school in September to study for their A levels.

A record 94 per cent of all GCSE entries at Giggleswick School were awarded A*/C grades.

Two candidates, Rebecca Dubock and Nicholas Thursby received notification from AQA that they had achieved "exceptional results" in GCSE English Literature.

Both candidates achieved one of the top five marks in English Literature Specification A from a total of 365,394 candidates.

Forty-six per cent of all entries were top A* or A grades.

Several local pupils achieved straight A* and A grades: Will Davis of Eldroth and Victoria Ferran of Long Preston achieved 21 top grades between them.

Victoria Ferran, a very talented linguist, hopes to go on to be the first pupil at Giggleswick to achieve 4 A grades in A level languages. William starts 5 AS levels in September and is hoping to become a geophysicist.

Spencer Moran, who also lives in Eldroth, achieved nine A* or A grades and Alice Lilley of Giggleswick, Matthew Wright of Wharfe, Isabel Marshall of Bentham and Edie Edmondson of Melling all achieved 8 A* or A grades.

"We are delighted with these outstanding results," said head master Geoffrey Boult. "This is a mixed ability year group which has contributed so much to school life without ever losing sight of their main educational priority. I congratulate every individual and their teachers."

OUTGOING Aireville School headteacher David Croll is leaving the school in a blaze of GCSE glory.

The school is celebrating its best results ever with 46 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A to C grades.

The best results belonged to Emma Armitage who gained 2 A*, 5 As and a B.

However Mr Croll, who leaves the school this summer after 14 years, said he was delighted with results at all levels.

The year group comprises a third of pupils who previously went to grammar schools before enrolling at Aireville.

Mr Croll said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the results. It's another record year. Last year we broke previous records and this year the results are even better so I am delighted for the pupils and the staff."

The headteacher added that results were good in every subject and the majority of pupils would be going on to study A levels at other schools.

UPPER Wharfedale is the only school in the Craven area not to provide details of individual achievement It released a statement stating that every single student taking GCSEs received at least five passes

Sixty five per cent achieved five or more passes (grades A* to C) - and the average number of GCSE points per student broke last year's record.

Despite being a secondary modern school - a non-selective school in a selective area - its results are once again above both the national and North Yorkshire averages.

Headteacher Phil Bennington said: "Once again we are celebrating an excellent set of examination grades - just reward for our students' efforts particularly over the last two years if their GCSE courses."

He also paid tribute to the input by staff at the school.

TALENT, motivation and hard work have contributed to Skipton Girls' High School's "phenomenal" GCSE results, according to headteacher Janet Renou.

The school is celebrating a 100 per cent run of five or more A*-C grades.

Mrs Renou said: "As with last week's A level figures, this week's GCSE results are among the very best in the school's long history. Not only have all students gained five or more passes but 77 per cent have five or more at Grade A or A*.

In English nobody gained less than a Grade B and 84 per cent of entries were at A or A* standard, as were 85 per cent of papers in chemistry and 83 per cent in business studies. In technology 90 per cent of passes were A* or A.

Among the many success stories are Katherine O'Rourke who achieved 11 A* marks.

Caitlin Carmichael-Davis, Stephanie Webb and Fiona Reid were within the top five candidates out of 365,394 exam sitters for English literature.

Year nine student Eliane Mahler, who took the French exam two ears early, was also commended for coming in the top five marks for her exam board.

GCSE pupils in South Craven were finally put out of their misery when they received their results yesterday.

Half of the pupils gained five or more A* to C passes, similar to recent years.

Sixteen pupils achieved at least five or more A or A* grades. The overall A* to G pass rate was 97 per cent.

Celebrating yesterday was Simon Hunter, who achieved nine A* and two A grades. Eleanor Wilson achieved six A*, three As and one B.

The Silsden schoolgirl said she had done better than she had anticipated and said she would be staying on at the school to study five A levels.

Mum Pauline said: "I expected good results but not this good. I am very proud."

Another happy student was Zi Cheung Pang, of Cross Hills, who gained three A* and five A grades.

He said: "I'm very pleased, I have worked hard over the past two years."

Zi Cheung said he would be studying geography, business studies, psychology and philosophy at A level at the school.

Head teacher Dr Andrew Cummings said: "We are pleased with our GCSE results and congratulate students and staff on their achievements, which are the result of all their hard work and commitment.

"The school looks forward to welcoming a large number of students into sixth form."

Pupils can register for sixth form on September 5 from 8.30am.