At St Peter's School in Huntingdon, 55 per cent of children achieved A* to C grades compared to 45 per cent last year. It is a particularly impressive feat, as the school was deemed to be 'underachieving' after an inspection last year.

Headteacher Val Ford said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the results. We have always been confident that our GCSE results would improve significantly. The pupils really deserve their success and we never tire of saying how proud we are of them.

"This is the beginning and we will work to get the best possible results for our students in the future regardless of government initiatives such as the National Challenge."

Youngsters at Longsands College in St Neots also performed well, with 72 per cent gaining five or more A* to C grades and 38 per cent achieving ten or more passes at this level.

Jacob Saxton-Smith was the college's highest performer, with ten A* and two A grades.

Principal Robert Whatmough said: "We are very pleased by the range and depth of these results. They reflect the college's determination to enable every student to make strong progress."

Martin McGarry, Deputy Head at St Ivo School in St Ives, was delighted with how the school's pupils got on. He said: "Once again this year, we continued to exceed the targets we set for ourselves.

"More than 70 per cent of our pupils achieved at least five A* to C grades, which is phenomenal.

"I'd really like to acknowledge the dedication of our teachers, who have worked so hard for five years, and the parents at the school who have helped their children no end.

Hinchingbrooke School and Sports College also achieved a personal best this year. The school's best ever results saw 78 per cent of pupils manage at least five A* to C grades incuding English and Maths - a rise of 19 per cent on last year's results and 13% higher than its previous best in 2006.

Kimbolton School was also celebrating as more than 66% of pupils' grades were either A*s or As, an increase of almost 15 per cent on last year's results.

Ninety nine percent of the pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, which is the the Government's standard measure of GCSE attainment.

In addition to this, twenty two pupils - more than a quarter of the year group - achieved all A* or A grades.

>> For more reaction (inculding St Neots Community College), see next week's Town Crier