Students beamed with delight as they opened envelopes revealing their long-awaited GCSE results.

Many schools across Watford excelled in the number of pupils achieving A* to C grades on Thursday morning.

The head teacher at Parmiter’s School, in High Elms Lane, Watford, was “proud” that more than 91 per cent of students passing higher than C grades.

Nick Daymond said: “We’re proud of our students as they have done very well. A small clutch of them have even got top marks.

“We have got a lot of pleased faces at the school today, however for those who didn’t get the grade they were hoping for, we also have a careers advice service, which will run through different options and support.”

Student Shreya Sheth said: “My results have been surprising. I got A's in the Sciences and A*s in History and Geography. I'm so happy I can stay on at Parmiter’s Sixth Form.”

Her friend Adam Barber was also pleased after opening his envelope.

He said: “I am very happy, as I’ll also be returning to the Sixth Form.”

Fellow pupil Krishna Balamurali added: “It is still sinking in but I feel really pleased. I managed to get at least A’s in the subjects I want to study at Sixth Form, including Maths, Chemistry and Economics.”

Chris Day’s results came as a shock.

He said: “I did much better than I thought I would. I did not expect to pass my GCSEs but manged to get an A* in English.

“It means I’ll be able to go to Westfield to study Sports Science now.”

Students also excelled at Stanborough School, in Stanborough Park, Watford, as 100 per cent of students achieved A* to C.

Head girl and president of her class Zahra Bharwani smiled from ear to ear as she discovered she got all A*s in everything apart from Business.

She said: “I’m very happy, as I got the results I wanted.”

Assistant head teacher Eileen Hussey could barely contain her delight at her students’ results.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted, as both the students and staff have worked really hard to get such fantastic results.”

Watford Grammar School for Girls also once again achieved “outstanding” GCSE results, with 87 per cent of grades being A*-C.

The girls achieved more than 120 new grade nines and six students achieved 10 A*s and Grade 9s. Overall, more than 65% of the grades were A* and A grades, which was up 10 per cent from last year.

Mrs Wagner, Headmistress says “I am so proud of the girls. They have worked so hard and gained the outstanding results that they deserve.

“I am especially delighted that we have risen to the challenge of the new GCSE examinations and achieved results that are well up on last year and that buck the national trend in a remarkable manner”.

Students at St Clement Danes were celebrating after a "fantastic" set of GCSE results.

The changes to English and Maths made little difference to results, with both subjects performing "strongly".

Headteacher, Josephine Valentine, said “Their hard work and commitment throughout has been exemplary and they thoroughly deserve this success.

"I must also congratulate the St Clement Danes teachers who have prepared our students fantastically for both the new qualifications and the existing ones and to our primary colleagues who played such an important role in providing this cohort with such excellent foundations.

"We are looking forward to welcoming large numbers of students to the Sixth Form at St Clement Danes where they will study for A levels and wish those who are going on to study elsewhere all the very best for the future.”

Rickmansworth School has seen a significant increase in results.

Against a national picture of 66 per cent at C/4+, students at the school have achieved 88 per cent and improved by 9 per cent on 2016 results.

The headteacher, Mr Douglas, said: "The school hall was full of excited students, parents and carers collecting results early this morning.

"So many students have exceeded expectations – and as a year group their results are a full 9 per cent higher than last year.

"The young people have every right to be extremely proud. Their success represents their determination and hard work. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them and the staff on their success."

Over at Westfield Academy, teachers said they were really proud of their pupils' results.

Tim Body, headteacher at the Tolpits lane school, said: Mr Body, added: “Our students have worked hard and deserve their good results, as do the staff and the parents for everything they have been through, supporting our students.

"We are particularly pleased with the number of students achieving the equivalent of A, A* and A** under the new grading 1-9 grading system."

Special congratulations to Justin Ho and Joe Pilney, both of whom achieved excellent grades in their GCSEs.

The two Watford Grammar School for Boys pupils will take their A levels at the school before going on to university.

Justin says studying medicine is a possibility while Joe is hoping to get into Cambridge. Best of luck boys!

Down at Watford Grammar School for Boys, headteacher Ian Cooksey was pleased to announce that results had improved on last year, with 95 per cent of students achieving the equivalent of A* to C in all grades.

"We are always determined to make sure that everyone achieves their full potential but we are never complacent with results - we're always looking to better them," he added.