EDUCATION bosses have congratulated pupils in the district who have received their GCSE exam results.

The County Council's Education Chairman, Councillor Hazel Harding, said: "I would like to congratulate all our young men and women who have worked hard for their success. Nationally a record number of pupils achieved A-C grades, an increase of almost one percent to 56.6 per cent, and on the evidence

of previous years Lancashire's pupils will match or exceed this trend.

"A great deal of attention has been given countrywide to the growing gender gap in performance but we must not forget that the achievement of both boys and girls is rising across the board. In Lancashire we are concerned to see that every child has the opportunities to achieve their potential.

"GCSEs are only the start, and regardless of the results you have achieved today there are opportunities for further study in Lancashire to provide life-skills and training for work.