Jubilant teenagers celebrated at schools across Waltham Forest today after they were handed their GCSE results for the moment of truth.

Designed to be more challenging designed to better equip students for university, the new style exams were introduced this year.

Maths, English language and English literature are now graded from 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest grade instead of an A*.

At Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone head teacher School Sally Walker spoke of her excitement about her student’s futures as she congratulated them on their success.

Ms Walker said 10 per cent of students who sat their GCSEs achieved “extremely high grades” including 9 and A* grades.

She said: “They are confident young girls and they are well-prepared to go onto some of the top sixth forms in the area.

“I am expecting these girls to go onto Oxford and Cambridge to study medicine and law. They have got very bright futures ahead of them.”

For Romana Chowdhury who got a 9 in maths, two 8s, four A* grades and three As, it was a relief to see all her hard work pay off.

“I think I did enough and if I had done more I would have gone mad,” she said.

“I started revising in February. I did my best.

“I thought there were a few subjects I did really bad in so I am definitely surprised. I know my parents will be proud.”

Zoe Webb got a 9 in maths, an 8 in English literature and six A* grades and two As.

The teenager said she plans on going camping to the Lake District to celebrate her top marks.

“I can relax now,” she said.

“Being prepared for the exams helped me stay calm. Just knowing that I would do my best, whatever that was.”

Jia Bo He who achieved two 9s, an 8 and seven A* grades.

She said: “To achieve well you have to be organised and have self-discipline.

“Of course there are distractions but you have to work hard to ignore those and concentrate in class.”

Students and staff at Frederick Bremer School in Siddeley Road, Walthamstow celebrated the school’s best ever results, with 64 per cent of students getting at least a pass in English.

Ewan Hindes scored three 9s, five A*s and one A grade while head boy Mert Yildiz was one of 18 pupils who achieved at least five As or A*s.

More than half of the top 20 achieving students were girls, including Shanzay Azhar who received a 9 in maths.

Mia Lundie-Smith achieved full marks in English Literature, scoring 160/160 and a perfect grade 9 and Asha Okasili Smith dropped only one mark in the subject.

In particular, results in English Language and English Literature were exceptional, with 83 per cent of pupils achieving good passes and 26 per cent achieving the highest passes of 7+.

Head teacher Jenny Smith said: “We are delighted with our results, which are testimony to the hard work and resilience of our pupils and commitment of our staff.

“With so much change to GCSEs taking place affecting these learners, these results are exceptional and we are delighted for each and every one of them.”