Students returned to their schools as they eagerly anticipated the results of their GCSEs.

At Westfield Academy, in Watford, 70 per cent of their students achieved 5A*– C grades.

John Aluma got Cs in both English and maths despite not passing any of the mock exams. He said: “I am really happy with this result. I never passed any of the mocks. I am going to study a football course at Westfield.”

Shannon Riordan got two As and five Bs and was really happy with her results.

Tim Body, Westfield Academy head teacher, said: “Our students should be proud of their achievements and I congratulate them, but I’d also like to congratulate our staff and our community, for the support afforded to our students; day in, day out.”

Nearly half of students at St Clement Danes School, Watford, achieved grades at A* or A, making this the highest attaining cohort in the school’s history.

Eighty-seven per cent achieved five A* to C grades including English and maths. Overall the school saw 91 per cent of pupils achieve at least five A* to C grades. Overall, 87 per cent of students at St Clement Danes got five A* to C grades.

Josephine Valentine, St Clement Danes’ head teacher said: “We are very proud of these students who have worked hard throughout their time at the school to gain such fantastic results.

“We should also pay tribute to the commitment and hard work of their teachers, both at St Clement Danes and in their primary schools, for helping to lay such solid foundations for future success.”

St Michael’s Catholic High School in Watford enjoyed record GCSE results this year.

82 per cent of students who took GCSE exams at St Michael’s achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and maths.

Head teacher Edward Conway said: “We are thrilled with the results achieved by our students. They have worked exceptionally hard and these results confirm this.”

“We are extremely proud of all of our students and are grateful to them for the way they have contributed so positively to our school community over the past five years.”

Watford Grammar School for Girls head teacher Clare Wagner said: “I’m so pleased. Most of the girls have outdone themselves.

“They’ve done brilliantly and I’m very proud.”

Immanuel College, in Bushey, saw 97 per cent of all students achieve five A* to C grades.

96 per cent of all students were awarded at least five A* to C grades including maths and English – the second highest proportion ever. With 55 per cent of students achieving grades that comprise the English Baccalaureate - being the second highest ever.

The top three performing departments were maths, English and art and photography One in five students at Bushey Meads School, Bushey, achieved at least five A* and A grades and nearly 80 per cent of students passed with at least five A* to C grades.

Head teacher Jeremy Turner said: “We are really pleased with the great success of our GCSE students this year.

“Many of them have achieved their target grades and the overall headline figures demonstrate that the school is providing a very good education to students in the area.

“I would like to congratulate and thank all the hard-working and dedicated staff, students and their parents for their commitment and support throughout the year.”

Harry Eagell, 16, from Bushey Meads School, got three A*s, eight As and one B. He said: “I did not want the B but I am overall happy with my results.” Harry will continue studying at Bushey Meads with the hope of studying medicine at university at either Oxford or St Mary’s.

Isabella Stovey got four A*s, three As and four Bs. She was very happy with her results today.

Brittany Hughes, from Bushey Meads, said: “I did not expect to get the results I did. I am not sure where I am going yet.” Brittany got three A*s, six As and two Bs.

Max Venning from Bushey Meads got one A*, four As and three Bs. He said: “I am really happy with the results. I am not sure which college I want to go to yet.”

Rickmansworth School saw 76 per cent of pupils score five A* – C grades including English and maths.

Keith Douglas, head teacher at Rickmansworth School said: “We were delighted to see so many students receive their GCSEs today and full credit to them for their fantastic achievement.

“Their excellent results are a credit to their hard work, together with their teachers’ dedication.”