The long wait is finally over for hundreds of GCSE students as the results of the exams are released today.

School halls across Hyndburn will be filled with nervous students waiting to see if they have done enough to get the grades they needed to progress to the next stage of their education.

Some will be continuing on to local colleges and sixth form centres to study, while others will be entering training for a trade, or going straight into work.

With results coming in this morning, headteacher at St Christopher’s Richard Jones said the school’s figures were excellent.

He said: “I am very pleased with this year’s GCSE exam results with 81 per cent of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at A*-C.

“This excellent headline figure is complemented by individual success stories with 12 students achieving a clean sweep of A and A* grades – a marvellous achievement.

“An overall pass rate of 99 per cent means that all pupils from St Christopher’s can plan for the future, whether studying A-levels in our sixth form or pursuing college courses or an apprenticeship, with confidence.

“Pupils, parents and teachers all deserve a well-deserved pat on the back.”

Schools in the area have celebrated great success in the last two years with their results, with some outperforming their previous best.

Xavier Bowers, headteacher of Mount Carmel RC High School, also praised the results of his school’s pupils.

He said: “We would like to congratulate all of our pupils on their 2014 GCSE results and acknowledge the significant commitment and support of both their parents and families.

We would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the efforts of the highly professional and

dedicated staff at Mount Carmel who regularly go above and beyond what is expected for the benefit of all pupils.

“99.3 per cent of all pupils achieved at least one A* - G grade, 89 per cent of all pupils achieved five A*-G grades and 88 per cent of all pupils achieved five A*-G grades including English and Maths.

“89 per cent of all pupils achieved one A*-C grade, 53 per cent of all pupils achieved five A*-C grades and 41 per cent of all pupils achieved five A*-C grades including English and Maths.”

Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Oswaldtwistle celebrated their best ever results in 2012, and Norden High School in Rishton had an 83 per cent pass rate, with an 83 per cent of students secured five or more GCSE passes at grade A* to C.

Careers advisers will be on hand to provide impartial guidance to students who are unsure what to do next from the Exam Results Helpline on 0808 100 8000. If your child or grandchild is receiving their GCSE results this summer, get in touch with us.

Email accringtonobserver@menmedia.co.uk with your stories and pictures. See next week’s paper for full results, stories, pictures and reaction to all the GCSE results from schools across the borough.