‘DELIGHTED’ students at Backwell School picked up the envelopes which will determine the direction their lives will take this morning (Thurs).

More than 44 students achieved at least eight A* and A grades in their GCSE results, with 81 per cent gaining at least five A*-Cs.

Outstanding performances came from Luke Hollander who scooped 10 A*s and three As, Eric Keith-Smith with 10 A*s and two As, Robert Gall with nine A*s and four As and Abigail Threlfall who managed nine A*s and four As.

Despite the general celebrations, the school believes it has been affected by a national fall in grades this year, particularly in English, which the school has decided to query with the exam board.

Headteacher Julian Baldwin said: “Our results this year are excellent.

“Science, where 90 per cent of students got A*-C, maths, history and languages are the best ever.

“However, it appears that like many other schools across the country we have been affected by the unannounced harsher marking in English language.

“While the results are very good in the subject, achieving 70 per cent at A* - C, a number of our students have not achieved the grades that they had good reason to expect.

“We have expressed concern to the exam board and have asked for the grades to be reconsidered.”