HARD work paid off for the hundreds of students who received their GSCE results in west Dorset, despite more demanding exams and a whole new grading system.

After months of waiting, school leavers from Beaminster School, the Sir John Colfox Academy and Woodroffe School anxiously collected their brown envelopes last Thursday.

Beaminster pupils celebrated top results across the board and excelled in the new core subjects with 85 per cent receiving a grade 4+ and above in English and 71 per cent in maths.

Darcy Shaw, who received nine A* and As and one B, said she was “relieved” after sitting 25 exams in the ten subjects. Proud mum Lou Shaw said: “She worked really hard, she really deserves it.”

Darcy will now go on to sixth form to study chemistry, biology, PE, and English.

Tommy Green, who received seven A* and As and three Bs, said: “I was dreading coming in this morning but I am actually really pleased with what I got. I probably worked a little bit too hard at times to be honest, so I am relieved it’s over.”

Other high achievers included Finn Russell with 10 A* and A grades including two of the new grade 9s, and Mitzi Castle with nine A* and As and one B.

Deputy headteacher Mr David Withers said: “It has been a real privilege to see the students grow over the past five years and earn themselves such great opportunities for the future.”

At the Sir John Colfox Academy pass rates in the new high grade threshold were 75 per cent in English and 74 per cent in maths.

Dahlia Twigger, with eight A* and three grade 9s, achieved the highest combination of grades possible, closely followed by Brian Robertshaw with seven A*, one A and two grade 9s.

Headteacher David Herbet said: “There is so much attention nationally paid to English and maths that other subjects are forgotten. I am delighted with the 100 per cent pass rates in performing arts, creative and digital media, food technology, film studies AS Level, textiles and Italian.”

In Lyme Regis, Woodroffe School achieved its best ever GCSE results with 82 per cent of students gaining five A* to Cs. In English four per cent of students achieved the top grade 9 and in maths five per cent achieved this.

Tom Gillespie and Tristan O’Leary both achieved 10 A*As and two grade 9s while Maisie Bellworthy and Zack Chantler gained eight A* and As, two grade 9s and one grade 8.

Headteacher Dr Richard Steward said: “As ever, students have worked incredibly hard and one can only admire the commitment and determination of those young people who manage to achieve high grades across such a broad range of disciplines.

“It is also vitally important to recognise the dedication of the Woodroffe staff who work tirelessly to ensure all students do their best to every year, but especially this year when the introduction of new courses, new syllabuses and the new grading system had led to great turmoil in the system and a huge amount of extra work.”