THERE were hugs, smiles and even tears of joy as students at The Petersfield School (TPS) opened envelopes containing their GCSE results.

Proud parents and teachers joined the teenagers at the Cranford Road campus for the last time before they move on to further education when they received their results last Thursday.

Two of the school’s top performers, Emma Walker, of South Harting, and Sam Brown, of Denmead, both praised the support they had received from the school, especially because of challenges resulting from the changed exam system.

Emma said: “I’m so, so happy with my results. I have loved it here but I’m ready to move on to Alton College.”

Following her grade nines in both English and maths, six A* grades and three A grades, she will be taking A levels in biology, chemistry and history with the hope of gaining a place at medical school.

A career in medicine or another science also beckons for Sam, who achieved six A* and two A grades as well as nines in maths and English.

He plans to go to Havant and South Downs College to study for A levels.

He said: “I am extremely happy with my results. I?Have had great support from all the teachers and would really like to thank them all.

“I am going to miss the incredibly supportive atmosphere here and would like to wish all my friends the best of luck for their futures."

Taking advantage of the new sixth form provision at Bohunt School will be Langrish girl Imogen Haydon.

She is hoping that with its emphasis on science, technology, engineering and maths, the Liphook school will be the best place for her to take A levels in maths, further maths and chemistry so that she can pursue her ambition of a career in engineering.

Harrison Hoy, who lives in Clanfield, said that he didn’t find the new maths GCSE course too difficult and achieved a grade eight.

Alongside a grade seven in English, three A*s, three As and a B in his other subjects, he is looking forward to starting at Alton College next month.

He is planning to take A level courses in biology, chemistry and maths and he then has hopes of becoming a chiropractor.

Friends Sian Slaney and Alex Evans were both happy and relieved when they opened their results’ envelopes at TPS last Thursday.

Sian, who said she found the new maths exam really hard, achieved mostly A*s and As. She said she was really excited to be moving on to Havant and South Downs College where she will take A levels in arts subjects.

Among extra-curricular activities which Alex has enjoyed at TPS have been taking part in the school’s musical productions and, having achieved GCSE results which include an A* in drama and an A in music, she is keenly anticipating joining the musical theatre course at Chichester College.

Charlotte Barker-Kirby, who, like Sian and Alex, lives in Petersfield, was relieved to have gained the grades she wanted to allow her to move on to Alton College next month.

She plans to take A levels in English literature, photography and geography.

Alton is also the destination for her friend Rebecca Coleman.

At the sixth form college she will be studying for A levels in English language, law and history. She hopes to have a career in linguistics.

Rebecca, of Petersfield, said she had really enjoyed her time at TPS, especially its friendly atmosphere.

Although this summer’s exams were mainly sat by Year 11 students, a number of Year 9 and 10 students took papers early in GCSE statistics, performing arts and languages, whose results were described by the school as “fabulous”.

In a statement, the school said students achieved the highest English and maths pass rate in the history of the school, with 79 per cent of students gaining a pass in both subjects, despite the increased academic challenge of this year’s new-style GCSEs and a drop in the national pass rates.

This was a further six per cent increase on last year’s record results and is likely to place TPS as one of the top ten state schools in Hampshire.

Between them, students were also awarded more than 40 of the new GCSE top grade nines – equivalent to an A** – in English and maths.

Other subject areas of outstanding success with more than 90 per cent ‘good’ GCSE pass rates include triple science, Spanish, geography, history, religious education, art, drama, music, media and physical education. Additionally, measures of student progress also significantly increased.

Principal Mark Marande said: “I am incredibly proud of all of the students who have achieved these record results through countless hours of hard work and dedication.

“Our staff, governors and parents have supported the students superbly as we’ve built a culture of the highest achievement here at TPS and these results are a testament to this.

“Since joining the Bohunt Education Trust last year, we’ve worked closely with our partner schools and we look forward to even greater success in the future. I am overjoyed that more students than ever will be leaving TPS with such fantastic GCSE results.”