A sixth-form block was a hive of excitement this morning as pupils received their GCSE results and enrolled on A-level courses.

Elsa Wiles and Karina Cassidy were among the high-achieving students at Wanstead High School and are celebrating by heading off to the Reading music festival this weekend.

The pair had their backpacks ready and set off after enrolling for the sixth-form.  

Elsa said: "I hadn't stopped crying after opening my results - I'm so happy.

"Being dyslexic, I really struggle with maths so I'm just ecstatic I got really good GCSEs. 

"I didn't think I would get an A* but I knew I worked really hard and I'm glad it’s paid off.”  

Aimee Johnson achieved eleven GCSEs at grade A* to B and will be celebrating at home with a glass of bubbly. 

She said: "I'm really relieved and quite happy as I was expecting worse and didn't feel the slightest bit confident, especially in science. 

"With my results I will continue at Wanstead High to study A-level economics, maths, philosophy and music.  

"GCSEs have been quite stressful so I'm looking forward to go celebrate with a bottle of champagne with my mum." 

There was continued success at Bancroft School in High Road, Woodford Green, particularly in the field of mathematics. 

The school retained a pass rate of 97 per cent for grades A* to B and 80 per cent of year 11 pupils achieved an A* in maths - its best performance to date. 

Retiring head Mare Ireland praised the pupils, but critcised the new wave of educational reforms which saw coursework scrapped in favour of end-of-year exams.

She said: "We are delighted to report that every single member of this year group has achieved at least seven good GCSE grades. 

"It is a shame that the government is playing politics with our children’s futures.

“However, the pupils and staff have all worked incredibly hard to produce this set of results."