GCSE pupils across Monmouthshire ended weeks of nerves when they found out their results this morning.

The results include a mixture of letter and number gradings with a new 9 considered to be a high A*, an 8 a low A*, a 7 the equivalent of an A grade, and 4 the equivalent of a C grade pass.

The new GCSE grading scheme is part of a new curriculum introduced in England’s schools in 2014 by then-Education Secretary, Michael Gove.

Changes have taken place in Wales, too, but the A* to G grading structure is being maintained.

•Chepstow School pupils have made tremendous progress in the first year of the new challenging GCSE exams in Wales, in qualifications that have been designed to be more rigorous and robust.

Pupils excelled in particular in Science and STEM qualifications. 84 per cent of the cohort achieved A* to C in combined Science GCSE. Single Sciences saw exceptional performance in Physics where 61 per cent achieved an A* or A at GCSE; 45 per cent achieved an A* or A in Chemistry; and 41 per cent achieved an A* or A in Biology. 29 per cent of pupils achieved an A* or A in ICT, with 85 per cent achieving A*-C. 67 per cent of pupils achieved the core qualifications of A*-C grades in English, Maths and Science qualifications.

Pupils sat the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge for the first time this year, and 100 per cent of the cohort achieved A* to C, and 19 per cent achieved A* or A grades in this subject.

Performance at the top grades has continued to be exceptional this year. Nearly a quarter of the cohort achieved five or more A* to A grades, and 10 per cent achieved A* to A grades in eight or more GCSE subjects.

Particularly noteworthy achievements for pupils are: Sophie Oliver, who achieved eight A* grades and three As, Hannah Lidgett, who was awarded seven A*s and two As, Jasmine Barraclough, with six A*s and five As, Clare John, with five A*s and five As, Joseph Truckel, with five A*s and three As, Lydia Ishmael, who achieved four A*s and six As, Nathan Morgan who achieved four A*s and three As, Imogen Hall, with four A* grades and one A, Jake Summers with four A*s and three As, Luke Reid with four A*s and five As, Alex Thorogood with three A*s and eight As, Joseph Bell with three A*s and five As, Hannah Coleman with three A*s and six As, Adam Davis who was awarded three A*s and five As, Maisie Hatcher with three A*s and five As, Scott Wiliams with two A*s and three As, Isabella Bason with two A*s and three As, Matthew Hereford with two A*s and four As, Will Jenkins with two A*s and three As, Isobel Giles with two A*s and five As, Megan Croombs with one A* and four As and Molly Moore, who achieved one A* and five A grades.

Claire Price, headteacher said: “I am proud of all of our pupils who have achieved outstanding results. They all now are able to move on to the next step of their educational career. These results have been achieved in partnership with support from parents and carers and through the commitment and dedication of school staff. It is this community approach that makes Chepstow school an inspiring place to be.”

Craig Bridgeman, Chair of Governors said: “Once again I am delighted with the GCSE results at the school. This performance, hard work and outcome will prepare our young learners for the next stage of their careers and progression routes. The Governing Body wish to congratulate all our young learners on the GCSE and last week’s A-level results. A big thank you to our parents, carers, and the dedicated school staff who collectively provide the great support for our children to aspire and grow their knowledge in preparation for the next challenge. Well done!”

•Wyedean School is celebrating another strong set of GCSE results following the introduction of tougher exams and a new numerical grading system in England.

The number of pupils receiving the standard pass of a 4 in five subjects (equivalent to a C grade under the old system) including English and Maths is 61 per cent. The number of pupils achieving a 9 - equivalent to an A** grade - was 14 per cent, and the number of pupils who achieved grades 7 to 9 (equivalent to A to A**) was 25 per cent of the year group.

A significant number of these higher grades were in either French or Spanish and demonstrates the strength of multiple foreign languages at the school. This underlines the significant overall increase in grades across all subjects for More Able pupils in general in these 2018 results. The key DfE and OfSTED indicator of school performance and a school doing well, a Progress 8 grade, is also in the positive from these results.

Wyedean School Sixth Form has seen a record number of applications to Year 12 to start the Sixth Form in September, coming from within the school, across Monmouthshire, the Forest of Dean and even international pupils to study a wide range of A-levels and BTECs.

Senior Vice Principal, Gwennan Jeremiah, said: “This strong performance is a very positive picture for the school especially given the backdrop of the implementation of the GCSE changes in England. There is so much to be proud and positive about with these results and what it means for our pupils after their hard work across all subjects.”

Principal, Rob Ford, said: “Along with all colleagues, schools, parents and young people across the country, we have spent the last couple of years getting on with managing a huge number of significant changes both in A-level, BTEC and GCSEs. This includes pupils under increased pressure to perform in exam halls at the end of two years and a significant increase in the number of hours of exams taken. It is testament to the resilience of our remarkable young people how well they have coped and their achievements this summer allows them to take the next significant step in their lives. We are so proud of them and the data does not begin to show the journey, ambition and experience of every individual Year 11.”

•Pupils at Caldicot School have proven resilient this year, as despite taking on a new set of examinations, a new school and months of turbulence through the build process, there were plenty of smiling faces on results day today.

Many of the pupils will stay on at the school having gained access to the brand new Sixth Form facilities, after passing their exams with some standout results.

Pupils Natalie Beacham, David Deegan, Thomas Dolbel, Ashley Fox-Wiltshire, Kate Hickley, Leah Hussey, Caitlin Jones, Henry Morgan-Owen, Elliot Morris, Sian Pike, Leanne Price, Rhiannon Thomas, Joseph Williams and Jack Pocock gained a massive 152 A* and A grades between them.

Jack gained five A*s, five As and a distinction in additional maths and will stay in Sixth Form to study biology, chemistry, maths and psychology in the hopes of becoming a pathologist.

He is pictured with Jacob Nesling, who gained seven A*s, two As and two Bs and will study maths, physics, biology and chemistry at Sixth Form in the hopes of becoming a chemical engineer in the energy sector.

This is the second year that the Welsh Government have introduced new qualifications to the curriculum. Simon Rees, acting head teacher said: “The new examinations test different skill sets and knowledge than the previous examinations, therefore this year’s results can not be meaningfully compared to last year’s results.”

Head of year Briony Fortt added: “The children have coped really well with the changes, and I think they’ve really enjoyed the new learning environment”.