THESE talented youngsters were among thousands picking up their GCSE results today, as schools across the region reported record numbers of passes at grade A-star to G.

Matthew Wallen, from York's All Saints' School, got 11 A-stars - heading up a bumper crop of results, as 72 per cent of students achieved A-star to C.

Head teacher Bill Scriven congratulated Matthew and his colleagues on their achievements, saying they were an "extremely talented" year group.

Staff and pupils at Oaklands School in Acomb were celebrating their best-ever Key Stage 3 and GCSE results.

Progress of pupils in key stage 3 maths and English puts Oaklands in the top 25 per cent of all schools nationally.

GCSE results at the school have reached a new high this year with more than 41 per cent of the Year 11 pupils achieving five A-star to C and 99.3 per cent of all the pupils achieving at least one GCSE pass.

Notable outstanding successes were Rachel Burton (5A-stars, 4 As and a B), Hannah Darton (6A-stars, 4As and a B) and Tanya Ventress (1A-star, 7As, 1B and a C).

Michelle Burns, who is retiring as head teacher, said: "It is wonderful to be leaving at a time when the pupils have achieved so highly. I believe that this is a testament to the hard work put in by them and their teachers right up until the end.

"I and everyone involved with the school should be very proud of these results."

Canon Lee School in York recorded best-ever GCSE and Key Stage 3 results, as 51 per cent of students achieved 5 A-star to C grades, with a number of students achieving all A or A-stargrades.

The school also reported their best ever Key Stage 3 results in English, maths and science following the publication of English results today.

Head teacher Kevin Deadman said: "I am extremely proud of our students and their teachers."

At Ryedale School in Nawton, near Kirkbymoorside, headmaster Geoff Jenkinson said of the 116 Year 11 students, 78 per cent got five or more A-star to C grades - up on 74 per cent last year.

Meanwhile, provisional figures published today by the Department for Education and Skills show that York's youngsters are in line with or above average on all indicators, at age seven and 11. The results are for Key Stages 1 & 2, and measure progress in the key subjects of maths, English and science.

City of York Council's executive member for education, Coun Carol Runciman, said: "These are an excellent set of results which show a steady trend of improvement in York's schools.

"They remain above the national average in many areas and good improvements in maths, English and science."

See Friday's Evening Press for a 12-page supplement detailing local GCSE results.

Updated: 10:11 Thursday, August 25, 2005