THE long wait for the GSCEs over -- and Leigh area schools have scored record successes again.

Staff at all the schools are delighted with their results.

Headteacher at Freddies, Tony Colley, said: "At Fred Longworth, it is onwards and upwards. We keep breaking the school record. Our results have improved in five of the last six years."

Fifty nine per cent of pupils achieved grades between A and C and two pupils have distinguished themselves.

Helen Webb passed 10 exams at grade A * and collected 1 A while, Andrew Tomlinson was awarded 9 A* and 1 A.

Mr Colley added: "We are very pleased at the achievements of our pupils this year with an overall pass rate at 5A* to C which is eight per cent above the national."

At Lowton High the results are the best in the school's history with 61.2 per cent of students achieving five or more grades A-C -- a rise of nine per cent on last year.

Leigh St Mary's RC High, Astley, has maintained the high level of academic success of previous years and headteacher Alan Bell said: "I wish to congratulate the students and staff whose work over the past two years has gained these very good results.

"The performance of boys this year is particularly good. The percentage gaining 5 A* to C has risen by eight points.

"This places the achievement of boys considerably above that gained across the country as a whole, and is just reward for the concerted efforts of the school to narrow the gender gap which has been a national concern since the introduction of GCSE and an emphasis on coursework.

"The school has continued to show an improving trend in examination results. I wish to pay tribute to staff of St Mary's for the quality of teaching and care provided for individual students which is a feature of our school community recognised and praised in two Ofsted Reports."