FOR thousands of pupils across the country last week bought an end to the anxious wait for their crucial GCSE exam results.

Annie Davidson

FOR thousands of pupils across the country last week bought an end to the anxious wait for their crucial GCSE exam results.

But for one nervous Suffolk student the wait was only just beginning.

Danielle Brannick spent five days in the dark about her grades after a mix-up in the arrangements for her results to be posted by Stowupland High School.

The 16-year-old, who was away on results day last Thursday, said she had given in a stamped addressed envelope for the grades to be sent out to her but they did not arrive on Friday or Saturday.

The school has since apologised but said it did not have a record of Danielle, of Sandpiper Road, Stowmarket, handing in the envelope.

Danielle, who spent a long Bank Holiday weekend waiting for the school to reopen, said yesterday: “When the results did not come in the post by Tuesday my mum and I drove up to the school and waited.

“Eventually a female staff member came and she printed them off for me.

“I went back to the school this morning and asked about how to track down the original and the reception lady said they were still at the school.

“She said if I had given in an envelope they would have been sent out, but I did hand one in. I know I did it.”

Danielle added: “I have been so nervous and anxious wondering what my results were and it has been horrible because all my friends knew and keep asking me how I had done.

“I have waited almost a week.”

But all was well that ended well for the teenager who achieved five Cs and a B - enough to secure her place on a forensic science diploma course at West Suffolk College.

Karen Grimes, headteacher at Stowupland High School, said: “We're pleased that Danielle now has a copy of her GCSE results.

“We appreciate that it may have been distressing for her not to have received them earlier, and in fact the member of staff who deals with our exam admin has already apologised to her.

“We were dealing with results for 175 students on Thursday, most of whom collected them in person.

“A number were posted out to students, but it's my understanding that unfortunately we don't have a record of receiving an envelope from Danielle, which is why her results were not posted out when we sent the others out.

“We do have a complaints procedure which the family would be welcome to use, and I would be happy to talk to Danielle about this issue.”