STUDENTS at The King Alfred School are celebrating after picking up their GCSE results.

Pupils packed into the school's sports hall at 8.30am on Thursday (August 22) and ripped open their envelopes to find out their results.

Staff and students celebrated their success after it was revealed 19 per cent of students achieved a Grades 7 or above, 53 per cent got a Grade 5 or above, and 73 per cent achieved a Grade 4 or above. 

Nathan Jenkins, principal of The King Alfred School, said: "I am absolutely thrilled and so proud of our students for a fantastic set of results.

"They are a significant improvement on last year's results and the students have made excellent progress. 

"The students have had to deal with a lot of changes in the last year with leadership but the school has continued to build positive momentum and that is shown in our results today.

"We are so proud of all of the students and we are taking the growth and momentum we have had into next year to continue improving the school."

Groups of students left school with smiles on their faces and secured sixth form and college places after receiving their results.

One of the happy students was Hannah Murdoch who said she was 'thrilled' to discover she had achieved eight grades at a Grade 7 or above.

Hannah said she was happiest with her Grade 8 in Drama as it has earned her a place at a performing arts school in Bedfordshire.

She said: "I am absolutely chuffed with my results, I can't believe I have got all the grades I needed.

"I am so happy to have got my 8 in Drama as it means I can go to performing arts school which is something I have always wanted to do."

Kayci Bowden and Jackson Wood also celebrated after receiving their results.

Jackson achieved two 5's, three 6's and two 7's and will be going to Weston College IN September to study Computer Science.

He said:" I am chuffed with my results.

"I got the grade I wanted in ICT and I will be heading off to Weston College in September to study Computer Science.

" I am quite nerdy and am looking forward to studying Computer Science in September. "

And Kayci achieved mostly fives and one four and will be coming back to The King Alfred School in September for Sixth Form. 

She said: "I am pleased with my results, I feel like I did really well.

"I passed my French exam which I was not expecting and am looking forward to coming back to The King Alfred School in September. "

Students who did particularly well included: 

- Ben Youd and Nikola Fabicka achieving eight grades 9-7(A*-A), including 4 grade 9's 

- Umama Akma achieving 9 Grades 9-7.

-Sophie Fenegan, Oliver Farnham, Hannah Murdoch and Louis Jones also achieved 8 grades 9-7.