Among the many students picking up their results today was one slightly nervous teacher.

At 38, French teacher Cathy Young, of Allithwaite, shared the highs of results day with her 16-year-old students when she picked up her Italian GSCE.

Ms Young, who teaches at Barrow's Chetwynde School, had studied part time at Dallam Training and Education Centre for the qualification after feeling embarrassed by her lack of Italian skills while on holiday in Rome.

Happily for her, standing among her Chetwynde students, Ms Young not only passed, she has got an A* and one of the top-five results in the country with the AQA exam board.

"My pupils thought I was mad to volunteer for an exam but I saw a few of them today and they were really pleased for me, although they thought the result was a bit jammy!"

She was not the only one landing marks within the top five per cent nationally at Chetwynde. Byanne Olabi got ten A* and a top five score in Maths while Alice Goacher was within the top five for French. Overall there was an impressive 87.7 per cent pass rate and many pupils gained eight or more passes at A* and A.

At Millom School head teacher Les Higgins said he was "delighted" with students' results.

"The whole year-group have done extremely well, and I know just how much sheer hard work and commitment has gone into their success. These results are a tribute to the students, and to the staff."

There were similar sentiments at Ulverston Victoria High School where assistant head teacher Sue Hewson hailed "one of the best all-round performances at GCSE". Overall 64 per cent of pupils got five or more A*-C GCSEs.

Top of the year group were Kate Mander and Toby Jones with 7A*s each, rapidly followed by Rosie Brocklebank, Vicky Ramsden and Jenna Armistead with 5A*s each.

Tensions must have been running high in the Bartosinski household as older sister Helen bagged five As at A level last Thursday. This week, little sister Alice scored a terrific six A*s and six As.

Head teacher Karen Hanks congratulated students and staff, rejecting claims GCSEs were becoming easier. "These results are based on two years hard slog. Our students have to juggle classwork, homework and coursework with necessary revision and redrafting. We should not compare their results with those of the past, these are completely different exams."