‘We cannot stop smiling’ – that’s the verdict from students and staff at Stevenage’s Marriotts School after achieving record-breaking GCSE results.

The Comet: Marriotts School's Charlotte Agar with her GCSE results.Marriotts School's Charlotte Agar with her GCSE results. (Image: Archant)

Overall, 55 per cent of students gained fives grades at A*-C including English and maths – the first time the school has topped 50 per cent.

In GCSE and equivalent qualifications, 21.6 per cent of grades are A*-A, 71.6 per cent are A*-C.

Headteacher Bethany Honnor said: “We are all absolutely ecstatic. Today we have achieved an 11 per cent increase on last summer’s results for A*-C including English and maths, and in the last three years our results have rocketed by more than 26 per cent!

“For our students, from their starting points these results show good or better progress across the board. Our Progress 8 score estimate –the new government measure – looks to be close to outstanding.”

The Comet: Marriotts School's Abdul-Aziz Ahmed with his GCSE results.Marriotts School's Abdul-Aziz Ahmed with his GCSE results. (Image: Archant)

“We are thrilled yet again with our continued improvements. Staff and students have worked incredibly hard and their commitment and work ethic has certainly paid dividends.

“At Marriotts we know that if you do the right things well, you will succeed. We believe in our school and are so happy, that in accordance with our vision statement, we are sending our students on successfully to the next stage of their lives.”

Under the new measures, the school’s overall 3+ levels of progress score is 71.2 per cent, with overall 4+ levels of progress at 42.1 per cent.

For the third year running there were record results in English, with 82 per cent of students making ‘expected progress’, 61 per cent making ‘better than expected progress’ and 74 per cent attaining a grade at A*-C – all figures above the national average.

The Comet: Marriotts School's Lewis Bennett with his GCSE results.Marriotts School's Lewis Bennett with his GCSE results. (Image: Archant)

Assistant head Nicola Rees, who is head of English, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted – the students so deserve this!”

In maths there was a 14 per cent increase in A*-C grades and more students made expected progress from their starting points than nationally.

Among the success stories was guest student Weslie Gray from the adjoining Lonsdale School who made history by getting Lonsdale‘s first ever maths GCSE grade C.

Results across all subject areas continued the upward trend, with 11 out of 18 GCSE subjects improved A*-C scores by an average of 14 per cent;

The Comet: Marriotts School's Tuhin Ali with his GCSE results.Marriotts School's Tuhin Ali with his GCSE results. (Image: Archant)

15 out of 18 GCSE subjects improved the number of students making expected progress by an average of 20 per cent, and in almost all BTEC subjects all students made ‘better than expected’ progress.

Year 11 student Taylor Furr said: “The intervention, half terms, holidays and Sundays for maths paid off so much. The school did so much for me, especially as I panic so much – they really supported me through it. I wish I’d listened earlier but it paid off in the end.”

Fellow student Sam Perry’s father said: “I would like to thank you and all your staff for all your hard work, persistence and all your encouragement towards all the pupils in Year 11 over the last two years.

“The amazing effort staff and students have put in is incredible: after school, before school, at weekends and on residentials – I can’t fault your efforts.’

The Comet: Marriotts School's Cameron Potasnick with his GCSE results.Marriotts School's Cameron Potasnick with his GCSE results. (Image: Archant)

The school said all students deserve praise, but top performers include:

• Kate Brown (5xA*, 4xA, 1x Dist*)

• Ginger Polo (5xA*, 4xA, 1x Dist*)

• Erin Randall (1x A*, 7xA, 1xB, 1x Dist*)

• Charlotte Ager (7xA, 2xB, 1x Dist*)

• Alena Bose (7xA, 2xB, 1x Dist*)

• Archie Malins (3xA, 6xB, 1xC, 1xDist*, 1xDist)

• Abdul-Aziz Ahmed (1xA*, 4xA, 6xB, 1xDist)

• Tuhin Ali (4xA, 7xB, 1xDist*

• Daniel Ballard (3xA, 8xB, 1xDist*)

• Cameron Potasnick (2xA, 5xB, 1xC, 2xDist*, 1xDist)

• Lewis Bennett (1xA, 3xB, 4xC, 2xDist*, 1xD)