HUNDREDS of pupils celebrated receiving their GCSE results across Colchester .

Despite experts’ predictions that the number of pupils being awarded top grades would decrease, many schools saw the proportion rise.

At Colchester Royal Grammar School, every student achieved the national standard of five grades A* to including maths and English.

All pupils at Colchester County High School for Girls achieved five grades A* to C, including English and maths.

At The Gilberd School, in Brinkley Lane, 64 per cent of pupils were awarded five A* to C grades, includingEnglish and maths.

Alderman Blaxill School, Colchester, saw pupils collect exam results for the final time in its 59-year history.

The school will close on August 31 because of falling demand for secondary school places in the area.

Thirty per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades including English and maths.

At Philip Morant School, Colchester, 70 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C passes.

Thurstable School in Tiptree was disappointed that 47 per cent of students achieved five A* Cs, includingEnglish and maths.

It said there were a number of appeals and remarks in process.

St Benedict’s College, Colchester, saw 67 per cent of students obtain five or more good GCSEs at A* to C.

At Colchester High School, 76 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades, including English and maths.

St Helena School said its results - 53 per cent of students gaining five A*-C grades with England and maths, were “very pleasing”.

Over in Brightlingsea, 71 per cent of Colne Community School pupils achieved five A to C grades including English and maths.