EXCITEMENT and anticipation was in the air at West Craven High School as students at the academy in Barnoldswick queued to discover their GCSE results.

And equally on edge were family and friends who joined them along with Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

The school has performed strongly in a number of subject areas including the core subjects of maths and English where a number of grade eight and nines were achieved – the highest possible under the new grading system.

Excellent results were also reached in art, business, French, music and triple science.

Despite the new grading system, West Craven bucked the national trend with a 15 percentage point increase in the school’s overall pass rate leaving staff delighted and proud of the students.

High achiever, Lucy Whipp was awarded a grade nine in her English language examination, putting her in the top three percent in the country.

She also gained a grade eight in her English literature, a grade seven in her maths and two A* grades and five As in her other subjects.

She said: “I’m really happy. I don’t know how I achieved a Grade 9 in my English Language – it’s a complete surprise!

“I’m going on to Nelson and Colne College next to do my A Levels and I would like to be a Child Psychologist in the future. It is an area that really interests me.”

Another high flyer was Annie Bryan who achieved eight A* grades in her haul. Annie said: “I can’t believe it. I’m really pleased! I want to go on to Nelson and Colne College to study Biology, Chemistry and Psychology as I really liked the look of the college when I visited."

Departing Head Boy James Cruise-Brown gained passes in all ten of his GCSEs and was delighted with his results.

James said: “I've have loved my time at West Craven High School. Through being Head Boy, I have learned new skills and I have done quite few speeches in front of people which has boosted my confidence and will be useful in the future.

“I’m also going on to Nelson and Colne College and I want to study Business, French, Law and Psychology. They are subjects that I’m really interested in and my career ambition is to be a solicitor. I hope to study Law at University.”

Outstanding results were also achieved by Erin Mason, Thomas Goodall, Annie Bryan, Thomas Ashworth and Daniel Dyson.

Previous success stories from West Craven High School include Oliver Robertson who has just left Nelson and Colne College with straight A* grades at A Level in chemistry, maths and physics and is going on to the University of Manchester to study Physics.

Joining him at the University of Manchester is Nimrah Khan, who achieved A*AB in psychology, biology and chemistry and is going to be studying Oral Health Science.

One former West Craven student who is taking the apprenticeship route is John Nelson after he achieved triple distinction* in his Vocational Business course at Nelson and Colne College and he will become an apprentice at Skipton Building Society.

The next open evening at West Craven High School will be held on Thursday, October 12 . The school is part of the Pendle Education Trust, a family of schools in East Lancashire sponsored by Nelson and Colne College, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Established in 2013, the Trust continues to grow and there are over 1,000 children within it at Pendle Primary Academy, Castercliff Primary Academy, Colne Primet Academy and West Craven High School.

For more information visit www.pendleeducationtrust.co.uk