CUMBRIAN schools are on target to make 2011 a record breaking year for GCSE results.

Provisional data from 30 of the county’s 37 local authority maintained schools and academies indicate another year on year rise – and are the best set of results the county has ever recorded.

Fifty-eight per cent of students have so far gained the national indicator of five or more A* - C grades (including maths and English) compared to 55.8 per cent in 2010 and 49.6 per cent in 2009.

There was also a substantial increase in the number of passes of five or more A* – C grades (any subject) up over 4.5 percentage points from 73.8 per cent last year to 78.4 per cent this year.

Cllr Duncan Fairbairn, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member for schools and learning, said: "This great set of results is down to the hard work and efforts of the young people in our schools, the dedication of our teachers and the support of parents and I congratulate them all.

"While we should quite rightly celebrate this achievement, we are constantly looking to improve and as the local authority we’ll strive to continue enhancing educational standards.”

In South Cumbria, the nine schools which make up the South Lakes Federation cummulatively recorded their best ever GCSE results, although schools refrained from releasing their individual 5 A* - C pass rate.

Head teacher of the independent Sedbergh School Andrew Fleck said that while his students had come away with some very strong results exam boards needed taking to task over their 'inability' to set, mark and grade exams effectively.

Mr Fleck said: "This year we find that our English Literature results are a long way away from our expectation and inconsistent with results that pupils have gained in English Language and other subjects.

"Just hours after receipt of results we knew this was a national problem. One wonders why the Exam Board was unable to spot this and address it before publishing the results?"

Ulverston Victoria High School is yet to finalise its 5 A* to C pass rate but head teacher Dennis Fay said he expected results to be slightly less than last year despite remarkable performances from students.

George Pamenter and Lucy Baldwin received 11 A* grades, head boy Henry Moss received 10 A* and 1 A, and Collete McKenney and Kelly Raymond were both awarded 9A* and 3A grades.

North Yorkshire's schools achieved record-breaking GCSE results this year with many schools recording significant increases in their A*-C pass rate, including English and maths.

Settle College saw its 5A*-C pass rates including English and maths increase by more than 10 per cent. by 15 per cent.

County Councillor Arthur Barker, executive member for schools, said: "This year's results are more impressive than ever.

"We must congratulate students for all their hard work and focus and teaching staff for their dedication and high standards.

"Pass rates including English and maths have increased markedly in many schools, showing what schools and the local authority can achieve together."

Lancashire County Council schools were also celebrating improved GCSE results.

County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "I am very pleased to see that initial results suggest that once again, Lancashire's GCSE results have continued to improve.

"In particular, we have halved the small number of schools below the target for five A*-C GCSEs including English and maths since it was raised to 35% last year.

"There have been some extremely good performances both from individual schools and pupils which have exceeded expectations. So far we have more than a dozen schools which have improved their performance by 10% or more, with some results still to come in.

"I should like to congratulate all our students, parents and ! teachers on all their hard work, with results proving yet again Lancashire schools and pupils are among the best anywhere."

Click on the links below for news, results and photo gallery from schools in South Cumbria, north Lancashire and the Dales.