It was a day filled with emotion as thousands of students across West Sussex received their GCSE results yesterday.

There was tension as many pupils turned up to receive their results in person.

There was disappointment for a few but most of the tears were those of relief and joy as some schools achieved record results.

Across Britain, there was a small improvement in the overall A* to C pass rate and the total number of passes stayed at 97.9 per cent. Boys finally began to close the results gap on girls after years of lagging behind.

Pupils at Steyning Grammar School were among Britain's highest achievers, with several pupils ranking in the top five for individual subjects.

One, who achieved nine A* grades, is to receive an examination board award for being in the top five French language students.

Overall, 59 per cent of entrants achieved more than five A* to C passes.

Of the 337 Year 11 pupils who entered, 94 per cent achieved five or more A* to C GCSE passes.

In contrast to the national picture, boys and girls at the comprehensive achieved almost identical results.

Headteacher Peter Senior said: "We are thrilled to announce these very good results. Congratulations to the young people and their teachers.

"All our key indicators are even better than last year and the boys have shown they can do as well as the girls. These GCSE achievements follow our very pleasing A- level results and will provide a good foundation for sixth form study."

Worthing High School celebrated an impressive 12 per cent improvement on last year's results. Sixty per cent of students gained five or more A* to C grades.

Among the highest achievers were Hannah Yeates, who was awarded A* and A grades in nine subjects, Leon Simpson with nine As and A*s and a B and Emma Knott, who gained eight As and A*s and one B.

Congratulations were also in store for Rebecca McAlees, who got seven A*s and As and two Bs, Rachel Bower who got seven As and A*s and Chris Bailey with six As and A*s and three Bs.

Emma Knott, 16, of Lavington Road, Worthing, said: "I am really pleased, especially with my Business Studies result. I thought I had failed but I got an A*."

Rachel Bower, 16, of Balcombe Avenue, Worthing, said: "I am very pleased especially with Maths and Spanish, which I didn't think I had done very well in but I got an A in each."

Her friend Beverley Grant, 16, of Browning Road, Worthing, got six As, three Bs and a C.

She said: "I was really shocked when I opened the envelope. It is quite indescribable. I didn't expect to do this well at all. I was really nervous . I rang my mum to tell her and she cried down the phone."

Headteacher Lyn Fryer said: "We have a truly comprehensive intake representing students of all abilities. This year we were very pleased with the performance of the whole year group.

"In the majority of subject areas the pupils exceeded our targets and all year 11 students attending this school gained certificates at GCSE."

The school did particularly well in science subjects, with 100 per cent A* to C pass rates.

At Boundstone Community College in Lancing 35 per cent of pupils gained five or more A* to C passes and 93 per cent gained five or more A*to Gs.

Pupil Amy Bacon, 16, or Sompting Road, Lancing, got seven As, two Bs and a C. She said: "I am so pleased I can't really believe it. I am still shaking now because I was so scared when I opened the envelope."

Lancing College announced its best results with 20 per cent of pupils achieving the top grade A* grade and 15 out of the 61 entrants gaining all A and A* passes.

Headteacher Peter Tinniswood said: "We are very pleased indeed and there have been some outstanding results. It has been an excellent performance by pupil and staff."

The star pupil was Ashley Taheri-Kadkhoda, who gained 11 A*s and an A in astronomy, which he studied for in his own time using the school's telescope equipment.

Ian Godsmark, 16, of Bulkington Avenue, Worthing, was also among the highest achievers with six A*s, and four As. He said: "I am so pleased I am shaking. I thought I had done alright but never expected my results would be as good as this."

Students at Kings Manor Community College in Shoreham achieved a 44 per cent A* to C pass rate, six per cent better than last year, with Rachael Atwood achieving eight A*s and one A grade.

Headteacher David McLean said: "Particularly pleasing is the fact students have performed well across the whole range of subjects."

At Durrington High School in Worthing, 96 per cent of the 337 entrants gained grade A* to G passes and 42 per cent achieved the coveted A* to C grades.

Head teacher Steve Crowther congratulated pupils and staff on their hard work and achievement despite staff shortages. She said: "As always, our more able pupils have achieved superb results. 20 per cent of the intake achieved nine or more higher grade passes, 15 pupils gained eight or more passes at A or A* and two of them gained 11 A and A* grades."