THERE were plenty of smiles and some brave efforts in the New Forest as students celebrated another year of strong results.

Priestlands School in Pennington couldn't quite replicate last year's best ever GCSE results, but the rate of improvement of students arriving at the school broke previous records.

After two years of toil 62 per cent of students achieved the gold standard of five GCSE grade A8 to C.

For the second year running, more than fifty students left with five or more grades at A* or A, twenty with nine or more A* and A grades.

Headteacher Chris Willsher was delighted. "These are good results," he said. "I am particularly pleased that the added value measures show pupils to be making exceptional progress during their time here.

"Priestlands continues to be a successful school, rooted in its community and serving the community well.

"Education at Priestlands is about more than exam results, but we know that their success today means our students have been given greater choice about what to do next. I congratulate them and wish them well in the future."

One student, Josh Butler, not only got 12 GCSEs - 11 A*s and one A - last week he got grade As in both A/S and A level Maths. He sat the subject at GCSE level three years early.

A proud Mr Willsher said: "This is a superb achievement. He is a gifted student and I am delighted we have been able to offer him this opportunity to stretch himself and show he is able to perform at the very highest level."

Another success story was brave head girl Sarah Crouch, 16, (pictured).

She had to study while receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy in her battle against cancer. Tests only put her in the clear in Febraury.

She came away with 3 A*s, 4 As, 2Bs and 2 Cs.

"I had a really difficult year and didn't know what to expect," she said. "I'm thrilled with these results. I was really overwhelmed."

She plans join Josh to study A levels at Brockenhusrt College.

At Ringwood School, 79 per cent of students got five or more A* to C grades. All achieved A* to G grades.

More than 82 per cent got A* to C grades in the core subjects of English, Maths and Sciences.

Three of the students got marks in top five per cent in the country.