As students reflect on their GCSE grades this weekend, success stories have not been hard to find right across the borough.

Gethin Evans, of South Woodford, bagged nine A*s at Ilford County High School, Fremantle Road, Barkingside.

He said: “I was ecstatic. I didn’t expect it but I was hoping for it.”

After picking up his impressive results on Thursday, he was off to Reading music festival to celebrate with friends.

At Seven Kings High School, Ley Street, Seven Kings, Vanisha Joshi, 16, achieved 10 A* grades and two As to add to the maths A-level she already has.

She said: “I am so happy with my grades and I hope to go on to study maths at university.”

Headteacher Tracy Smith said: “I am really pleased with the results this year with 87 per cent of students achieving A*-C grades.

“Although it is not up from last year, we have taken a greater intake of pupils including special educational needs.”

There were also celebrations at Woodford County High School, High Road, Woodford Green, after 87 per cent achieved five or more A* and A grades.

Elizabeth March got five A*s and five As and put her success down to a revision timetable.

At Loxford School of Science and Technology, Ilford, eight friends scooped 41 A* GCSE grades between them.

Shuaib Chowdhry picked up nine highest grades for English, maths, statistics and all three sciences.

Kico Bela achieved two A*s in geography and I.T.

Meanwhile Wanstead High School’s sixth form common room was full of students registering for the next stage of their education after a string of good results.

Among them was Daniel Small, who was celebrating his two A*s, six As and two Bs with a trip to the Reading Festival at the weekend.

He said: “I did as much revision as I could and was confident but things can go wrong. I’m really pleased to have met all my target grades.”

The top performers at the school in Redbridge Lane West, Wanstead were Eleanor Garrett, Damini Bhatnagar, Ruby Muir, Rowan Liddle and Mayisha Begum who achieved 36 A*s between them.