Students from across the area celebrated in the rain this morning as they opened their eagerly anticipated GCSE results.

The anxious 15 and 16-year-olds filed into schools and colleges to learn the results of many months of hard work.

Some will now go on to study for A-Levels, with a view to winning a place at university. Others are expected to apply for apprenticeships or enter the jobs market.

Francis Combe Academy, in its first year of independence, saw its gold standard results (pupils achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths) increase to 48 per cent – a rise of 17 per cent on last year.

Principal Leo Gilbert said the results, coupled with the ongoing building work at the school, provided a solid platform for an exciting and prosperous future. He also stressed the importance of his students’ achievements in English and maths.

He said: “These are the subjects that will open doors for our students in the future and we are absolutely determined that they will succeed in these subjects. We’ve changed our curriculum so that students will spend more time on these subjects because they are so important top their future success.

“There have been many changes this year, with the ongoing building work and staff restructuring, so we are delighted with these results. The future is very bright.”

At Bushey Academy, in its second year of independence, has achieved its best ever performance, with 89 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades.

Principal Andrew Hemmings said: “We are enormously proud of our students, who have performed so well this year. The achievements of the academy are attributable to a sense of common purpose, ambition and team work amongst staff and students.

“We have a generation of students who grasp the opportunities they are given, who take pride in their learning and their school, and who show genuine appreciation for the efforts of their teachers and the other staff.

“We are obviously celebrating this year’s results and we now look forward to another year of success.”

The school will open its £30million extension in August 2012.

At Parmiter’s School, in Horshoe Lane, students celebrated another year of outstanding results.

Some 92.6 per cent achieved five A*-to C grades including English and maths. A record 63.8 per cent of students also gained five or more grades at A* and above.

Headmaster Nick Daymond said: “I am delighted with these results and out students should be congratulated for all their hard work.”

Elsewhere, 66.8 per cent of grades recorded by students at Watford Grammar School for Boys were graded at A and A*, while 97.2 per cent of students achieving grades A* to C. Forty gained 10 or more A* grades.

Headmaster, Martin Post, said: “I am delighted that our GCSE students are in a tremendous position to start Sixth Form work with confidence and, in due course, to impress university admissions tutors. I would like to congratulate them and their teachers for their outstanding performance.”

At Rickmansworth’s Royal Masonic School, nearly 60 per cent of grades were at A* to A. At Immanuel College 54 per cent of students achieved the same standard.

Watford’s Westfield Community Technology College continued its trend of improving exam results, with 53 per cent of students getting five A* to C grades, including maths and English. That figure was just 28 per cent in 2009.

Principal Emma Aylesbury said: “What a stunning achievement for the young people who have worked exceptionally hard during the academic year. I am so proud of all of them.”