THE day of reckoning came for hundreds of pupils across the borough on Thursday (Aug 23) when the GCSE results were announced.

(Click on the GCSE RESULTS file on the left link for all the local results)

Records were broken at a handful of schools and there was a mixture of joy and heartbreak at others as the envelopes were opened.

Bury Grammar School (Girls), Prestwich Community High School, Elton High School, Woodhey High School, Tottington High School and St Monica's RC High School in Prestwich all had pupils who were rated in the top five for their subjects nationwide.

But it was not all about gaining the top grades and there were a number of inspirational stories that sprang from the nail-biting day.

Broad Oak High School pupil Amanda Senior (16) of Palatine Drive, Bury, has overcome adversity to achieve five A*-C grades.

Amanda has missed most of the last two years' lessons because she underwent a number of painful operations on her legs. There was a similar display of bravery and determination over at Bury CE High School where, despite undergoing a kidney transplant operation part way through the examination period, Claire van Opstal managed to get nine grade C's.

And at Elms Bank High School in Whitefield there was a feeling of pride for its pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities who also impressed.

Among the schools breaking their own records was Bury Grammar School (Girls) with a pass rate of 98.74 per cent at grades C and above. Broad Oak High School trumped itself for the fifth consecutive year and Elton High School got the most A*-C grades in its history. It was the same story at Tottington High School, Prestwich Community High School and St Monica's RC High School.

Among the youngest success stories were 14-year-old St Monica's RC High School pupil Peter Stevens of Beechfield Drive, Bury, who got an A* for Music.

His fellow pupil, 12-year-old Selina Martinez of Simister Green, attained an A* in Spanish.

Her incredible expertise at a foreign language also resulted in Woodhey High School's Emilie Rothwell (14) of Kendal Road, Ramsbottom, getting an A* in French.