A RECORD number of Bolton youngsters bucked the national trend by achieving top grades in their GCSEs.

Schools say that more youngsters than ever before passed subjects with As and A* grades — a magnificent achievement.

The numbers of pupils passing five subjects at A* to C was also up on last year by nearly one per cent to 66.5 per cent.

Several schools celebrated an increase in their overall pass rate — but some saw a dip in those achieving five or more GCSEs including English and maths.

Turton School in Bromley Cross celebrated achieving a record number of A/A* grades, with maths achieving the highest number of A*s to date.

The overall pass rate was 59.1 per cent slight down on last year’s 62 per cent.

Headteacher Sam Gorse said: “Results across EBac subjects are outstanding and many subjects across the school have seen record performances. Our broad and balanced curriculum is paying off with music and Arts subjects achieving 100 per cent A-C grades. Performances in Spanish and French are at an all time high.”

St Joseph’s RC High School saw the numbers of its pupils achieving the benchmark of achieving five or more A* to C including English and maths soar by nine per cent to 77 per cent. Headteacher Richard Woods said: “These excellent GCSE results are testament to the tremendous hard work of pupils, staff and parents here at St Joseph's. The staff and governors congratulate the pupils on their fabulous achievements and the most important acknowledgement we want to make is about the pupils themselves.

“We are all very proud of them and want them to know that their hard work, abilities and commitment have been recognised in these wonderful results, which are the best GCSE results the school has seen for some years.”

St James’ CE High School in Farnworth also celebrated a 77 per cent pass rate for the number of pupils achieving the standard pass rate.

An impressive 89 per cent of students gained a grade C and above in maths and 92 per cent in English literature, 86 per cent in English language.

Headteacher Tania Lewyckyj said: “These results were as a result of dedicated students, supportive parents and our great staff all working together. I am delighted.”

The overall pass rate for pupils making the grade rose by nine per cent at Mount St Joseph to 68 per cent. Headteacher Paul Roach said: “We are exceptionally pleased with the achievements of our students this year. The results across all subjects are outstanding. Some of the highlights are – 58 per cent of students achieved A and A* grades in English language, 44 per cent gained A and A* grades in English literature and 64 per cent achieved A and A* grades in chemistry.”

At Westhoughton High School, 61 per cent achieved five or more good grades including English and maths — up six per cent on 2014.

Headteacher Phil Hart said: "This represents yet another ‘best ever’ performance for the school at a time when our teachers and students have had to adjust to the significant changes in GCSEs. It is a credit to them that they have done so well, despite the constantly shifting goals and the tightening of national standards."

Sharples School celebrated a perfect 100 per cent A* to C pass rate for its sciences and an overall pass rate of 56 per cent of children making the grade — up by four per cent on last year.

Headteacher Rachel Quesnel said: “We are delighted with the improvements made on last year’s results and in particular, the outstanding science results our young people achieved.

More than half of all children at Rivington and Blackrod High School gained the qualifications needed.

Headteacher Tony Purcell said: "Well done to all of our students for their dedication and commitment to academic achievement.

“We have some amazing individual student successes, and we must thank our staff and parents who have supported students to realize success

“This builds on the tradition of success established at Sharples School over many years, reinforcing our specialist science status and placing us as one of the top performing schools in the country for science.”

At Bolton St Catherine’s Academy 41 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark of achieving five or more top graded GCSEs including English and maths, compared to 35 per cent the year before.

More than a quarter of GCSE grades at Canon Slade were at A*/A and more than three-quarters were at A* to C. The five or more A* to C including English and maths stood at 74 per cent, which was down on last year’s 81 per cent.

Headteacher Alan Mottershead said: “Ninety-eight per cent of Canon Slade students achieved five or more A*- G GCSE qualifications, including English and maths, and both English and maths saw over 80 per cent of their GCSE subject grades being A*- C, as usual.

“In addition to their achievements on GCSE courses, many students performed superbly on other programmes of study such as BTEC and ASDAN courses.

“We are very pleased that their results today allow them to move on with confidence on the next steps in their education and careers.”

Thornleigh Salesian College achieved its target of 67 per cent of young people achieving the standard.

Headteacher Alison Burrowes said: “An phenomenal 86 per cent of Year 11 students achieved a C or above in English with 49 per cent achieving an A* or an A."

At Kearsley Academy 43 per cent achieving the benchmark compared to 53 per cent year. Principal Suzanne Pountain said: “This year more students than ever achieved 8 GCSE’s or more. We are extremely proud of all our students’ performances.”

Essa Academy in Great Lever had its highest ever achievers with more than 10 per cent of all grades being awarded an A or A* and 92 per cent achieving at least five GCSEs.

The overall pass rate was down from 54 per cent to 46 per cent of teenagers achieving five or more GCSEs including English and maths.

Headteacher Andrew Peet said: “ Once again we are exceptionally proud of all our year 11 students who have demonstrated that with commitment, hard-work and belief they can achieve.”

At Harper Green School, 40 per cent of pupils achieved the standard, slightly down on last year and 50 per cent gained five or more A* to C grades.

Deputy headteacher Sara Cain said: “The results were a reflection of the hard work and determination of the pupils and there were some fantastic individual performances from pupils of all abilities. The staff, parents and governors are proud of all the pupils and their personal achievements.”

Top performing school was Bolton School, where 99.5 per cent of young people at the girls' division made the grade and 98.6 per cent at the boys' school, which in both cases was up on last year.

Headmaster Philip Britton said: "Great GCSE results are the outcome of a great deal of effort from the boys, considerable support from parents at home and the expertise and commitment of my colleagues at school."