Pupils at Ceredigion secondary schools have been praised after achieving some of the best GCSE results in years.

Across the county, grades were higher than the Welsh average, with 24.9 per cent of grades in Ceredigion being A* or A compared to 18.4 across Wales.

A total of 98.8 per cent of Ceredigion grades were passes from A* to G compared to the Welsh average of 97.2 per cent.

Mair Hughes, the headteacher at Ysgol Penglais, said the school had seen the best results for a number of years, with 39 per cent of all grades being either A* or A and with 81 per cent of grades at A* to C grades.

Thirty-six per cent of pupils received 5 A* or A grades with an eight per cent increase in the percentage of students achieving the L2+ of five A* to C grades.

Ms Hughes said: “We are delighted with the results this year which reflect the enormous amount of work put in by students and staff over the last year.

Over 96 per cent of Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron pupils achieved at least five GCSE grades and over three-quarters of the year group gained at least 5A*-C grades.

“These results reflect the hard work of pupils, parents and staff alike,” said headteacher Owain Jones.

There were outstanding results again at Ysgol Bro Pedr, Lampeter, where headteacher Jane Wyn said the pupils had done the school proud.

The school had an overall pass rate of 95 per cent - notably with over one in five pupils achieving five or more A* or A grades.

“We are incredibly proud of all our pupils’ achievements, and wish them every success for the future,” said Mrs Wyn.

It was a similar story of success among Year 11 pupils at Ysgol Bro Teifi, Llandysul.

“Many of our pupils have achieved an excellent set of results,” said headteacher Robert Jenkins. “I am delighted that we have been able to open doors for our pupils in order to pursue further study or enter the world of work."

Dorian Pugh, headteacher at Ysgol Henry Richard, Tregaron, said: “As a school we’re very proud of the accomplishments of these pupils in achieving fantastic GCSE results.”

Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi headteacher Nicola James said: “Our focus is on maximising the progress of every pupil across a broad range of subjects, and most of our students sat between 12 and 14 GCSEs or equivalent qualifications.”

Acting headteacher Rhian Morgan at Ysgol Penweddig, where 75 per cent of pupils had five GCSEs at A*-C and the pass rate for 5 GCSEs A*- G was 99 per cent, said: “The school community is very proud of our pupils’ achievements.”

Read our full story and see lots of pictures from results day in this week’s paper, on sale now