SCHOOLS in the Great Yarmouth area enjoyed another successful year of GCSE results with many reporting an increase in the number of A*-C passes on last year's total.

SCHOOLS in the Great Yarmouth area enjoyed another successful year of GCSE results with many reporting an increase in the number of A*-C passes on last year's total.

At Acle High School, 66pc of pupils gained five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths compared to 62pc last year, while 72pc of students gained five or more A*-C grades in any subjects compared to 69pc in 2008.

The school's headteacher Tim Phillips said: “It is an outstanding result- the best in the school's history. Congratulations to the students and staff for their hard work.”

Another school with an improved performance on last year was Oriel High School in Gorleston where 24pc of students gained five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths compared to 21pc last year. The percentage gaining five or more A*-C grades in any subjects was 33pc compared to 24pc in 2008.

The school's deputy head Naomi Palmer said: “We are delighted. We have had some students with some really good results. We are overjoyed to be heading in the right direction.”

Other results for students gaining five or more passes, with 2008's results in brackets, are as follows:

CAISTER HIGH:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 38pc (43)

A*-C 59pc (62)

CLIFF PARK HIGH:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 45.62pc (44)

A*-C 63.59pc (59)

FLEGG HIGH:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 60pc (51)

A*-C 71pc (66)

LYNN GROVE HIGH:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 61pc (53)

A*-C 79pc (67)

STALHAM HIGH:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 43pc (45)

A*-C 52pc (54)

YARMOUTH COLLEGE:

A*-C incl Eng and maths 55.22pc (60)

YARMOUTH HIGH:

A*-C include Eng and maths 47pc (46)

A*-C 59pc (59)

REGULAR visitors Great Yarmouth Market Place will probably be familiar with Tara Flores, who serves fruit and vegetable at one of the stalls.

However, they may not be aware they are being attended to by a bright mind! The 16-year-old from Lound, who attends Norwich High School, achieved 10A* and an A in her GCSEs. She now plans to study history, Spanish, French and further maths A-levels at her school.

The teenager, who lives with dad Michael and stepmother Karen, got the job at the stall through her boss Sean Dearne's wife Lucy, who used to be her nanny.

Talking about her results on Tuesday, Tara said: “I could not believe it. When I opened the envelope I was screaming my head off with my friends. I am still in shock.”

Connie Fisher and Daniel Timms, both 16, were two of the star pupils at Acle High School after achieving 10A* grades.

For Connie, of Blofield, the success came on top of an A* GCSE she gained in French last year.

She said: “I am quite surprised, but I am really happy. I was predicted 10A*s but I never thought I would get it.”

She now plans to study English literature, English language, maths and biology at East Norfolk Sixth Form College and hopes to do a creative writing degree, possibly at Cambridge.

Her fellow high flyer Daniel, of Broad Road, Fleggburgh hopes to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, the Labour MP for East Ham Stephen Timms, who is financial secretary to the treasury.

He will be studying music, economy, maths, chemistry and politics at East Norfolk Sixth Form College and hopes to study a degree in music with politics at either Durham or Cambridge Universities.

He said: “I was very delighted to get these results. I was predicted those grades, but I was very happy to get them.”

Yarmouth High School student Arron Bell hoped his GCSE results would enable to pursue his dream career of becoming a policeman. The 16-year-old gained 1A, 4Bs and 4Cs and will be going to Yarmouth College in September to study a Btec in public services- a course for people who want to serve the public.

Arron was stunned by his results as he only expected to get all Cs. He hopes his A in ICT and B in science will show that he has the skills and knowledge to become a policeman or a crime scene investigator.

Yarmouth College student Alison Vogt, 37, had sat her maths GCSE 21 years after flunking her last one with an F grade. But the single mum had no reason to worry as she got a B grade this time around and a B in English.

She said: “Now my little boy is at school I wanted to sort out my career and start planning for our future.

“Yarmouth was the nearest college that offered both English and maths on the same day and during the day. I did not want to do an evening course because of my son.

“The courses were nothing like being at school. At school I was not confident enough to ask I did not understand anything. But at the college discussion was encouraged. The tutors were so helpful and supportive.”