TEENAGERS gave a star-studded performance in their GCSE exams, figures today show.

Despite posting record-breaking results last year schools across Bolton are again celebrating even more outstanding GCSE grades.

Director of Bolton’s children’s services Margaret Asquith said: “I am so proud of Bolton’s results in this year’s GCSEs and equivalent qualifications.

“We’re getting better and better each year and our pupils have done really well, and improved even on last year’s results — which were already really good.

“This is not only down to the hard work of the pupils, but also all their teachers, support staff and parents.”

A borough-wide break-down of this year’s results showed that 70 per cent gained the benchmark five or more A* to C GCSEs - up by three per cent.

Those who had English and maths among their five was 46 per cent up from 44 per cent last summer.

Mrs Asquith said: “We have improved two per cent on last year and eight per cent since 2006.”

Nationally the overall A*-C rate has increased by 1.4 percentage points to 67.1 per cent. The overall A* to G rate has also increased from 98.4 per cent in 2008 to 98.6 per cent.

Schools which saw their results soar included Ladybridge School in Deane where 80 per cent of its students achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs, a huge 21 per cent increased on 2008. And the number of bright teenagers who had English and maths among their five was up by ten per cent to 40 per cent.

Headteacher Hilary D’Arcy said: “This is a school poised for ever greater success and we are all very pleased.”

At the new Essa Academy, formerly Hayward School in Great Lever, nine per cent more children achieved five or more top graded GCSES including English and maths, posting a 37 per cent pass rate. A staggering 27 per cent more pupils — 65 per cent — achieved top grades in five or more of their exams in any subject.

The success was mirrored at Harper Green School, in Farnworth, where 39.4 per cent of pupils achieved the required standard including English and maths — up by 14.4 per cent. The A* to C pass rate of 58 per cent was in line was last year.

The overall pass rate of 61 per cent of children receiving five or more A* to C grades was highest achieved by the Mount St Joseph in Farnworth in two decades, rising by six per cent. Those who had English and maths among their passes was slightly down to 41 per cent but “exceeded targets set by the local authority”.

For the fourth consecutive year overall pass rates rose at Withins School in Breightmet, to 80 per cent of children leaving with the required five or more A* to C GCSEs, an improvement of 5 per cent on last year. But the numbers who could include English and maths fell slightly to 17 per cent.

Senior teacher Dr Lee Schofield said: “The challenge remains to match the high performance seen overall at the school in English and maths.”

Bolton Muslim Girls School posted a perfect 100 per cent pass rate for those gaining five or more A* to C, up from 87 per cent last year. The percentage of those who had English and maths among their five was up from 74 per cent to 78 per cent.

George Tomlinson School in Kearsley suffered a slight fall in results. Results for students gaining five or more high grade GCSEs was 54 per cent, and those who had the English and maths stood at 21 per cent, both which were slightly down.

But said headteacher Rachel Glazebrook said:“Whilst we are disappointed with some our results we always knew that this was going to be our most challenging year for GCSEs and a number of students just missed out on achieving their targets. The trend of our results still remains upwards.”

At Westhoughton School 66 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark standard, and 42 per cent could count English and maths among their five or more top graded subjects.

There was a five per cent increase at Rivington and Blackrod School in Horwich in the numbers of pupils achieving the required level, which stood at 69 per cent. Teenagers who had English and maths among those stood at 55 per cent, also up by five percent.

The borough’s top performing state school was Canon Slade in Bradshaw with its results of 93 per cent of pupils achieving the five or more GCSEs at A* to C, with 86 per cent including English and mathematics — both up by three per cent.

Headteacher Philip Williamson said: “Students have once again secured a new record in the school’s history fo performance in GCSE examinations.”

Recent allegations about cheating in language exams did not detract from the celebrations of good results at Little Lever School. The school posted a 60 per cent pass rate for the number gaining five or more A* to C grades, up on last year and 38 per cent with English and maths, in line with last year.

Headteacher Phil Hewitt said: “It is sa day of celebration to mark the achievements of pupils. They have worked hard and have achieved fantastic results.”

A pass rate of 75 per cent for five or more A* to C grades with 60 per cent having English and maths among their subjects was recorded at Turton School in Bromley Cross.

Headteacher John Porteous said: “The class of 2009 have ot only mathced Turton’s record year they have surpassed it.

“They have really done us proud.”

Top of the class was Bolton School with 97.7 per cent pass rate at A* to C. For girls the figure stood at 99 per cent.