IT was smiles all round today as students at Bankfield School achieved their best ever maths and English GCSE results.

English grades improved by 21 per cent.

Widnes pupils in Liverpool Road, Widnes have bucked the national trend and performed better than many other students across the country.

Head girl Charlotte McDowell achieved the highest results in the school’s 56-year-history, racking up eight A*s and four As in all her GCSE subjects.

She said: "I’m delighted not just for me, but for the teachers and school who have helped me achieve my potential.

"I’ve spent the first part of the summer with the school in Kenya and to come home to this is just fantastic.”