We will provide updated school-by-school results from 20 schools in north Essex, as well as analysis from headteachers and education chiefs.

New GCSE grades will be awarded for the first time, with just a small proportion of entries expected to score the highest result. School leaders across England have warn that GCSE reforms are already causing teenagers more stress and anxiety, and this is likely to increase as more subjects switch to the new system.

Under the biggest shake-up of exams in England for a generation, traditional A* to G grades are being gradually replaced with a 9 to 1 system, with 9 the highest mark. English and maths – key GCSEs for all teenagers – are the first to move over, with other subjects following until 2020.

The grading switch is part of wider reforms designed to make GCSEs more rigorous and challenging. A grade 7 is broadly equivalent to an A under the old system, while a 4 is broadly equivalent to a C. The new headline figure is the percentage of students achieving a grade 4 in English and maths.

Clacton Coastal Academy

The academy refused to tell us how many people had sat their GCSEs and the percentage of students that had achieved grade 4 in English and maths.

However according to Principal Stephanie Neill the academy have achieved their best grades yet. She said:“This summer has seen the highest grades achieved in GCSE and A level at Clacton Coastal Academy. We are very proud of these achievements. They reflect the attention to detail and hard work of our students and our staff.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Students pick up their results at Colchester County High School for Girls. Picture: COLCHESTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLSStudents pick up their results at Colchester County High School for Girls. Picture: COLCHESTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (Image: Archant)

Clacton County High

Colchester Academy

East Anglian Daily Times: Students pick up their results at Colchester County High School for Girls. Picture: COLCHESTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLSStudents pick up their results at Colchester County High School for Girls. Picture: COLCHESTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (Image: Archant)

202 pupils sat their GCSEs at Colchester Academy, however the school refused to give the percentage of students who achieved a grade 4 in English and maths.

But principal Fiona Pierson revealed that the students have out performed their predicted targets.

She said:“We are absolutely delighted to see so many students achieve so well, with many outperforming their predicted targets.

“Staff and students alike have worked incredibly hard throughout the year and I am delighted with the success the school has achieved.

East Anglian Daily Times: Imogen Hildred was happy with her impressive GCSE results at St Mary's. Picture: ABBIE WEAVINGImogen Hildred was happy with her impressive GCSE results at St Mary's. Picture: ABBIE WEAVING (Image: Archant)

“I wish all students the very best of luck in the next stage of their education.”

Colchester County High School for Girls

Out of 112 GCSE students, 100% achieved at least a grade 4 or higher in English and maths.

East Anglian Daily Times: St Mary's girls Grace Lelliott and Lydia Jackson celebrate their GCSE results success. Picture: ABBIE WEAVINGSt Mary's girls Grace Lelliott and Lydia Jackson celebrate their GCSE results success. Picture: ABBIE WEAVING (Image: Archant)

Headteacher Gillian Marshall said: “Following on from the truly impressive results achieved by our GCSE students last year; and despite the challenges the reformed GCSE curriculum poses for all schools, our Year 11 students have once again broken school records.

“89% of grades were at A/A*(or Grade 9/8/7 equivalent) and 98 % of grades were at A*/B (or Grade 9/8/7/6 equivalent), 55% of grades were at A* or a 9 which is an incredible performance.

“62% of grades were at A*/9/8. Last year, we celebrated the best results in the history of the school; this has yet again been repeated.

“We thank students, staff, governors and parents for all of the hard work and support.

East Anglian Daily Times: Adam Dunston, from Philip Morant School and College, exceeded his own expectations and was delighted with his results. Picture: ABBIE WEAVINGAdam Dunston, from Philip Morant School and College, exceeded his own expectations and was delighted with his results. Picture: ABBIE WEAVING (Image: Archant)

“This has been a further amazing year with all 112 students achieving outstanding results in all subjects, with the following students gaining exceptional A*/9 or 8 grades.”

Colchester High School

East Anglian Daily Times: Philip Morant pupil Megan Smith was beaming after hitting high marks in her GCSEs. Picture: ABBIE WEAVINGPhilip Morant pupil Megan Smith was beaming after hitting high marks in her GCSEs. Picture: ABBIE WEAVING (Image: Archant)

The 68 students that took their GCSEs are celebrating their results with the staff of Colchester high school. The school was unable to tell us how many pupils achieved a grade 4 in English due to them taking the iGCSE but 85% of students got a grade 4 or higher in maths.

David Young, head of Colchester High School, said, “It is a pleasure to celebrate with our staff and students who have worked so hard to achieve these results. My congratulations go to all of our GCSE students and I wish them every success as they take their next steps into A Levels and beyond.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Classmates Imogen Tuke and Dan Ball celebrate at Philip Morant School and College. Picture: ABBIE WEAVINGClassmates Imogen Tuke and Dan Ball celebrate at Philip Morant School and College. Picture: ABBIE WEAVING (Image: Archant)

Colchester Royal Grammar

At Colchester Royal Grammar School, 44 students achieved 10 subjects or more graded A* or A, and 70% of all grades were A*, A or grade seven to nine.

Some 16 pupils achieved at least 10 subjects graded at A*, with Charlie Howlett and Matthew Smith among the top performers.

East Anglian Daily Times: GCSE results day at theSt Benedict's Catholic School l in Bury St Edmunds. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTTGCSE results day at theSt Benedict's Catholic School l in Bury St Edmunds. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Colne Community School

Colne Community School and College celebrated after pupils Anastasia Murphy scored high with five A*s, two As and a grade nine and eight in maths and English.

Beth Hollis also did well with two A*s, two As, one B, two Cs and grades eight and six in English and a two in maths.

East Anglian Daily Times: GCSE results day at theSt Benedict's Catholic School l in Bury St Edmunds. Clement Wallace and Dina-Marie Biju PICTURE ANDY ABBOTTGCSE results day at theSt Benedict's Catholic School l in Bury St Edmunds. Clement Wallace and Dina-Marie Biju PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Harwich and Dovercourt

Hedingham School

East Anglian Daily Times: Students from Colchester Academy, from left to right, Kaylee, Rebecca, Abbie, Emily. Picture: COLCHESTER ACADEMYStudents from Colchester Academy, from left to right, Kaylee, Rebecca, Abbie, Emily. Picture: COLCHESTER ACADEMY (Image: Archant)

The school achieved their best-ever GCSE results, according to headteacher John Panayi. In addition to the headline figure in the table above, 68% of students achieved a grade five or more in English with 57% achieving the same standard in maths, and 25% of all grades were the equivalent of A* or A.

Mr Panayi said: “I am extremely pleased with the GCSE results gained by our students and wish to congratulate them for their commitment and hard work to attain their excellent examination outcomes.

“Within a changing and uncertain examination landscape where grade boundaries are untested, it is very good to note that Hedingham School has maintained high expectations for our students which is reflected in their excellent results. This consolidates our standing as a good school.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Emotional day at Tendring Technology College GCSE results day. Picture: TENDRING TECHNOLOGY COLLEGEEmotional day at Tendring Technology College GCSE results day. Picture: TENDRING TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE (Image: Archant)

Honywood School

Honywood School also performed well with seven of its 10 students (about 70%) gaining passes in English and maths.

Four pupils gained 40 GCSE passes between them, with 32 of the marks at A* or A.

A spokesman for the school said: “Whilst it is almost impossible to compare this year’s outcomes to those in the past, our analysis suggests that no cohort in the school’s history has left us enjoying greater academic success or being better prepared for the challenges to come. We are so proud of the immense effort all our youngsters put into their studies this year.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Emotional day at Tendring Technology College GCSE results day. Picture: TENDRING TECHNOLOGY COLLEGEEmotional day at Tendring Technology College GCSE results day. Picture: TENDRING TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE (Image: Archant)

Maltings Academy

The Academy refused to tell us how many pupils took their GCSEs and how many achieved a grade 4 in English and maths.

However, Emma Baker, head of the academy, said she is pleased with the GCSE results.

East Anglian Daily Times: Students of Clacton Coastal Academy celebrate their results. Picture: CLACTON COASTAL ACADEMYStudents of Clacton Coastal Academy celebrate their results. Picture: CLACTON COASTAL ACADEMY (Image: Archant)

She added: “We are really pleased with the students’ results this year.

“Despite the significant changes, students have performed extremely well.

“This is a testament to the staff, students and parents/carers and the hard work and commitment they have shown.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Students of Maltings Academy finally see their GCSE Results. Picture: MALTINGS ACADEMYStudents of Maltings Academy finally see their GCSE Results. Picture: MALTINGS ACADEMY (Image: Archant)

Manningtree High

Manningtree High have done well in maths this year according to headteacher Mrs Morris, out of 146 GCSE pupils 14 managed to achieve a grade 9 in the subject.

She added: “Many students achieved top grades across their subjects including Ben Grant and Daniel Clarke who got Grade 9s in both maths and English alongside 7 other A or A* grades.

“Tiarnie Stammers achieved 7A* grades, two 8s and a 9 and Ella Fincken got 6A* grades, one A and two 8s and a 9.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Maltings Academy students look at their GCSE results. PICTURE: MALTINGS ACADMEYMaltings Academy students look at their GCSE results. PICTURE: MALTINGS ACADMEY (Image: Archant)

The school was unable to tell us how many students achieved a grade 4 in English and maths.

Philip Morant

Students at the Philip Morant School and College were also celebrating.

East Anglian Daily Times: Happy Manningtree High School students after opening their GCSE results. Picture: MANNINGTREE HIGH SCHOOLHappy Manningtree High School students after opening their GCSE results. Picture: MANNINGTREE HIGH SCHOOL (Image: Archant)

Catherine Hutley, principal, said: “We are very happy with the attainment and progress of our students in what has been an unbelievably difficult year with staff and students not knowing what the goal posts are.

“Many have exceeded expectations, but there are some achieving nines in maths and English which has been reported as being extremely difficult, so coming out with those is fantastic.”

Pupil Megan Smith scored eight A*s, one A, and nines for maths and English.

East Anglian Daily Times: Emotions are high as Manningtree High School Students receive their GCSE results. Picture: MANNINGTREE HIGH SCHOOLEmotions are high as Manningtree High School Students receive their GCSE results. Picture: MANNINGTREE HIGH SCHOOL (Image: Archant)

St Benedict’s College

The school wouldn’t tell us how many pupils had achieved a grade 4 in English and maths however, principal Jo Santinelli said she is proud of the achievements of the 162 pupils who sat their exams.

She said: “This year, GCSE students across the country have had to contend with a number of significant changes to the curriculum and the examination process.

“I am exceptionally proud of the considerable efforts made by our young people, many of whom have achieved outstanding and well-deserved results.

“Teachers and support staff worked incredibly hard to prepare students for examinations that no one had sat before or even seen.

“I would like to acknowledge their efforts in supporting our young people academically and in all other ways during their time with us.”

St Helena School

St Mary’s, Colchester

Pupils at St Mary’s were celebrating after 90% achieved at least the equivalent of the old C grade in English and maths.

Hilary Vipond, principal, said: “We’re thrilled and delighted. The girls worked incredibly hard and we have the most fabulous set of results.

“We’re particularly delighted because of the new exams and syllabus and the girls seem to have risen to the challenge. The exams are harder but the results are just as good if not better than last year. We’re really proud of them.”

One student, Imogen Hildred secured an A* in RS and an A in English Literature.

Stanway School

Tendring Technology College

Students at Tendring Technology College have been excited and relieved while opening their results this morning.

The College refused to tell us how many pupils sat their GCSEs and what percent of the students received a grade 4 for English and maths but principal Michael Muldoon said congratulations is in order.

He said: “I wish to congratulate TTC students on their examination achievements. There has been a fantastic buzz of excitement, relief and celebration as students have opened their envelopes this morning and been delighted to have gained the fantastic qualifications that their hard work and effort has deserved.

“Well done to Josh Mulryne who achieved the highest grade possible in all of his subjects, and Katelyn Gibson who also performed fantastically well achieving top grades in nine of her subjects and a grade 8 in her tenth. “

The Gilberd School

Headteacher Linda Exley said: “I am very proud that our students have continued to meet incredibly high standards and all their hard work has resulted in students making excellent progress with a vast number of students achieving the highest possible grades.

“We are delighted with the achievement of all students, however we would like to highlight the outstanding academic performance of the following students: Emily Wright, Rebecca Gil-Lubeiro, Sophie Mason, Azamat Kuvandikov, Hope Kedian and Charlie Lockwood.”

Thurstable School

A total of 157 pupils sat GCSEs at the school however the school refused to give the percentage of students who achieved a grade 4 in English and maths.

But headteacher Miles Bacon is delighted for the students.

He said: “The potential confusion and inevitable delay in comparing school wide results caused by changes to government grading policy has had at least one beneficial effect – it has focused our attention exclusively on the achievement of individual young people rather than on averages.

“I am delighted for our students that their efforts have brought them the rewards they deserved, and am incredibly grateful to the staff who taught and guided them with such skill and tireless commitment, and to the parents who have supported their children so very well.”

Thomas Lord Audley School

Students at Thomas Lord Audley School have done particularly well in English, Geography and German according to headteacher Helena Boast.

She added: “There are many students who are very pleased with their results. This was down to their hard work and commitment to achieving their best and also the total dedication of the staff who supported them.

“The excellent results that students have gained means that they will be accepted on the post-16 course of their choice at Colchester Vlth Form College or Colchester Institute and most will not need to retake GCSE English or Maths. We wish them every success in the future!”