TEENAGERS in East Lancashire are following the national trend as GCSE pass rates shot up again this year.

More and more pupils are not only securing 5 A* to C grades overall, they are also gaining the benchmark A* to C GCSEs in English and maths too.

Pupils in Lancashire County Council schools in East Lancashire improved on last year with a five per cent increase in the number of students gaining A* to C grades including English and maths. It rose from 53 to 58 per cent.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 76 per cent of pupils gained five A* to C grades, two per cent above last year, and seven per cent more pupils gained A* to Cs including English and maths.

Early indications showed the overall pass rate in Lancashire rose by around one per cent.

The trend reflects the national picture where nearly seven in 10 were awarded at least one C grade and saw pass rates rise for the 23rd year.

*Click below for GCSE results from East Lancashire schools, except for Blakewater College, Blackburn; Beardwood Humanities College, Blackburn; Colne Park High; Marsden Heights Community College, Nelson; Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College, Blackburn; SS Fisher and Thomas More RC Humanities College, Colne; St Bede’s RC High School, Blackburn, who declined to provide the information to the Lancashire Telegraph.

* Click here for all your East Lancashire GCSE results