CLEVER Charlotte Bell enjoyed "star studded" success as she notched up 11 A*s in her GCSEs.

Charlotte, 16, of Keighley Road, Colne, had exam results that were among the best in the country.

"I never expected to do as well as this," said Charlotte, a pupil of Park High School, Colne. She is going on to Nelson and Colne College to do A levels. She hopes to eventually have a career in conservation or medicine.

Fisher-More, Colne, already Pendle's best performing school, saw its pass rate for five or more A*-C grades soar from 48 per cent to 66 per cent. Three out of ten pupils achieved ten passes at those grades. Best of the bunch was Kevin Whittingham with two A*s and eight As. Head Peter Donnelly said: "I would like to congratulate the pupils and teachers."

At Park, 37 per cent achieved five or more higher grades.

Walton High, Nelson, achieved a 36 per cent pass rate with Rachael Nuttall gaining three A*s and seven As and Naomi Taylor, following sister Rebecca's success in achieving four As and a C at A-level, gaining six A*s, three As and a B. Primet High, Colne, had a 30.7 per cent pass rate with Nadeem Ahmed passing nine exams including five A*s and three As.

Martin Burgess, head at Edge End, Nelson, celebrated another rise in the school's pass rate for higher grades to 29.8 per cent, with Sajida Hussain gaining one A*, eight As and a C, together with an A* in a RE short course, the equivalent of half a GCSE.

Arnold Kuchartschuk, head of West Craven, Barnoldswick, said: "I am very pleased with this year's achievement across the ability range."

Barden High School, Burnley, head boy Farouk Miah outshone his friends by obtaining eleven GCSEs all at grades A* and A. At A* to C grades the school was ten per cent up on last year and five per cent above LEA targets.

There was disappointment at Towneley High School, in Burnley, where the five or more A*-C target was not achieved. Four or more A to G grades were achieved by 96.3 per cent of pupils and one student, Simon Howarth, scooped one A* and seven As.

Burnley College'spass rate went up a point to 55 per cent.

At St Theodore's High School, Burnley, 43 per cent of students obtained five or more A* to C grades. Christopher Clare achieved seven A*s, two As and one C, Edward Dempsey received six A*s, three As and one B, Jonathan Doherty scooped five A*s, four As and one C and Liam Barker achieved five A*s and 4 As.

Picture: Delighted Charlotte Bell with her A-mazing exam results