THE anxious wait for thousands of students was over yesterday as celebrations were under way for the record number of GCSE passes.

Many schools across the region reported vast improvements on the previous year's pass rates and spoke of dozens of students with top grades.

But it wasn't just the A* passes which brought accolades. Some of the most heartwarming stories came from students who had battled against the odds and schools who had worked hard to improve their pass rates.

Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington, has seen the percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C grades jump over the years.

Only three years ago, 38 per cent of students sitting the exams were recording five passes or more.

This year 64.2 per cent of pupils made the benchmark, up by more than six per cent on the previous year's figure.

Last year, the school received an achievement award from the Department for Education and Skills for the rapid turnaround in results.

Headteacher Eamonn Farrar said: "There has been no magic formula, it is just working hard and having high standards of teaching and behaviour."

Other schools with fantastic results included Teesside High, at Eaglescliffe, where 98 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C; Yarm School, Yarm, on 97 per cent, and Emmanuel College at Gateshead on 96 per cent.

At Durham High School for Girls, 35 per cent of pupils gained all A* and a further 38 per cent were awarded A grades.

Students at Belmont Comprehensive in Durham broke the school's record with 52 per cent achieving 5 A*-C and 98 per cent at least one pass.

Headteacher Pat Howarth said: "The whole school community rightly deserves to be congratulated for these outstanding results."

At Hurworth House School, near Darlington, 92 per cent of pupils gained at least eight grade A*-C passes.

Chris Fenwick, headteacher, said: "I am delighted with these results."

l Other successful five A*-C pass rates include: Macmillan College, Middlesbrough - 81 per cent compared with 70 per cent last year and 48 per cent the year before; and The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form, in Hartlepool - 60 per cent.

Hummersknott School, Darlington - 60 per cent; Richmond School, North Yorkshire - 61.6 per cent.