THE wait was finally over for thousands of Huddersfield GCSE students – and one is thought to have set a new record by gaining 17 GCSEs with every one of them an A*.

The remarkable achievement was set by talented musician Freya Smith who is head girl at Honley High.

Despite a national fall in the A* to C pass rate for the first time in 24 years, it seems our students were bucking the trend.

Click below to see our GCSE gallery.

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Pupils at Honley High School excelled across all subjects.

Freya and head boy Charlie Slater were awarded 30 A*s between them.

Other high flyers included Matthew Jones, Oliver Linsell, Huato Liu, Emma McCabe and Oliver Myers, who all passed every one of their GCSEs at Grade A* to A.

Headteacher Chris Sylge said: “This is another great set of results for Honley and staff and students are to be roundly congratulated.

“English and maths grades have once again reached their highest ever levels with 85% if students getting A* to C passes in English and 83.5% in maths.

Students and staff at Shelley College were celebrating 80% achieving the benchmark of five A*-C passes – which is an increase on last year’s previous record figures.

Click here for results from around the region's schools.Headteacher, John McNally, said, “This is a tremendous success for the school and I am delighted for the students and the staff who worked so hard to achieve these high standards.”

Stephanie Sandy, of Shelley was one of the celebrating students having been awarded six A*s and six As. Fellow students Katie Barker and Ben Pugh were awarded 12 A*s each.

Almondbury pupil Reyan Saghir took home seven A*s and two As.

While volunteering with an organisation for disabled people in December, he fell and broke his leg. The 16-year-old was off school for over a month, missing vital revision time.

However, he was absolutely delighted with his results and hopes one day to join the ranks of his two older brothers in the medical field.

The average pass rate was up at Huddersfield Grammar, making it a record and a good first year for ‘new’ head Tim Hoyle.

He said: ““Results in mathematics and the three sciences were especially impressive and in GCSE Italian the entire group of 10 students obtained either grade A* or A.

“We are delighted that all students achieved a minimum of five GCSEs or their equivalents at A* to C.”

Brittany Hanlon, of Slaithwaite, received five A*s, four As and a C and did much better than expected .

Grades at Newsome High School reached a plateau after last year’s record grades.

Headteacher Paul Gittins said: “We are thrilled with this year’s exam results. This year 11 group was smaller than last and their commitment has really paid off.”

Student Haroon Ahmed achieved eight A*s, four As and two Bs while Luke Hill achieved five A*s, five As and four Bs.

Nationally 69.4% of GCSE entries earned grades A* to C, which was down for the first time since the exams were introduced in 1988. There was also a fall in the proportion of pupils receiving the top A* and A grades, down to 22.4% from 23.2%.

Teachers from across the UK voiced concerns over the number of failed English GCSEs and harsh marking.

They have also suggested the exam boards had increased grade boundaries, leaving pupils with lower results than expected.

Some organisations welcomed the tougher marking.

Tim Thomas, Head of Employment and Skills Policy at EEF, which is the manufacturers’ organisation said: “Whilst employers will be disappointed at the fall in pass rates, businesses may find that grades are now more reflective of the ability of those taking the exams.

Vice principal for curriculum at Kirklees College, Andrea Machell said: “We still have places available on a wide range of courses and will guide people through the next steps.

“Kirklees College is dedicated to training its learners in the skills they need to start a career.

“From hairdressing to bricklaying, there is something for everyone at Kirklees College and we will welcome enquiries from pupils whether they are delighted or disappointed with their GCSE results.”

The college’s main open enrolment event takes place on September 4, from 1-7pm, at Huddersfield Centre.

For details phone the information and advice team on 01484 437070.

A HONLEY High School student has achieved the unthinkable.

Gifted Freya Smith opened her GCSE results yesterday morning to reveal that she has now notched up a record breaking 17 A*s – believed to be the highest amount ever achieved.

The Government does not compile figures as different exam boards are involved but a search of the internet reveals the best result is from someone who achieved 16 A*s in 2009.

The Meltham girl took her first exam at just aged 13, which she described as a very daunting experience.

She continued to take two GCSEs a year and then she sat 12 more earlier this summer.

Despite her incredible achievement, Freya – who one day hopes to study medicine at Cambridge – said she is “just a normal teenager.”

“I took my music GCSE in year eight and was surrounded by lots of people who seemed to know what they were doing more than I did,’’ she said.

“In year nine, I took French and Resistant Materials followed by Latin and Statistics in year 10.

“I really wasn’t sure how I had done and was counting down to results day. As soon as I saw the results I was over the moon.

“It hasn’t been that difficult to fit everything in and I have a pretty balanced lifestyle.

“I am just a normal teenager and love going out socialising with my friends.

Honley High head girl Freya received a Grade 8 distinction in oboe at aged 14 and was awarded her a Grade 8 distinction in piano a year later.

Her passion for music has seen her travel across the UK with the National Children’s Orchestra. She is now the principal oboist within the Kirklees Youth Orchestra.

She continued: “I have loved Honley High School and will really miss all the teachers – they have been so supportive.

“I am going on to Greenhead College to study biology, physics, chemistry, maths and music.

“Yesterday was a very happy day and my friends all did really well too. We were all really excited and surprised with our results and we are looking forward to the celebrations before we go on to Greenhead College.”

Freya’s mum Jill Brook said: “I am extremely proud of her. Everyone at Honley has done so well – the staff have been excellent.”

Honley High School headteacher Chris Sylge said: “I am totally in awe of Freya’s achievements, although I am not actually that surprised as I know what a talent she is in so many disciplines.

“She is an extraordinarily gifted and motivated student whose career I shall follow with interest.”

Freya wasn’t the only high-flyer at Honley as head boy Charlie Slater was awarded an amazing 13 A*s.

THERE were plenty of celebrations as nervous Rastrick High School pupils opened their GCSE results.

Among the top girls were Frances Ayres, Isobel Benton and Rebecca Carr with Peter Hepworth and Dennis Rimmer heading up the boys results.

Isabel Benton, 16, of Hipperholme, got 10 A* and three A grades and said: “I didn’t know what to expect before I opened them. I was so nervous but I am really pleased now.”

Isabel will now go to Greenhead College and study English, history and philosophy with the aim of studying law in the future.

“I will miss Rastrick,” she said. “It’s been great being here and they’ve been really supportive and I’ve made some great friends.”

Rebecca Carr, 16, of Rastrick, got 10 A* grades and six As and said: “I was hoping I’d do well but I never expected to do this well.

“I’m staying at Rastrick Sixth Form and will study chemistry, biology, maths and further maths and drama. I want to study medicine but I love drama too much to give it up.”

Araf Ahmed, 16, of Birkby, got five A* and five A grades and will go to Greenhead College to study maths, biology and physics and chemistry and hopes to study medicine in the future.

Also celebrating was Dennis Rimmer, 16, of Brighouse, who got five A* and four As. Dennis will remain at Rastrick to study physics, chemistry and maths in the sixth form.

Lucy Crabtree, 16, of Brighouse, was jumping for joy when she opened her results, she got three A* and 10 A grades.

Talented Lucy is a member of Halifax Light Opera and Halifax Youth Theatre and will study drama, dance, English literature and history at Rastrick’s sixth form. She hopes to further her education at a performing arts school in London is two years time.

She said: “I feel really proud of myself. I was dreading opening my results but I’m thrilled.”

Headteacher Helen Lennie said: “We’re pleased this year’s GCSE students at Rastrick High School have continued to maintain our high standards – the five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C rate has increased once again”.

THERE were plenty of celebrations as nervous Rastrick High School pupils opened their GCSE results.

Among the top girls were Frances Ayres, Isobel Benton and Rebecca Carr with Peter Hepworth and Dennis Rimmer heading up the boys results.

Isabel Benton, 16, of Hipperholme, got 10 A* and three A grades and said: “I didn’t know what to expect before I opened them. I was so nervous but I am really pleased now.”

Isabel will now go to Greenhead College and study English, history and philosophy with the aim of studying law in the future.

“I will miss Rastrick,” she said. “It’s been great being here and they’ve been really supportive and I’ve made some great friends.”

Rebecca Carr, 16, of Rastrick, got 10 A* grades and six As and said: “I was hoping I’d do well but I never expected to do this well.

“I’m staying at Rastrick Sixth Form and will study chemistry, biology, maths and further maths and drama. I want to study medicine but I love drama too much to give it up.”

Araf Ahmed, 16, of Birkby, got five A* and five A grades and will go to Greenhead College to study maths, biology and physics and chemistry and hopes to study medicine in the future.

Also celebrating was Dennis Rimmer, 16, of Brighouse, who got five A* and four As. Dennis will remain at Rastrick to study physics, chemistry and maths in the sixth form.

Lucy Crabtree, 16, of Brighouse, was jumping for joy when she opened her results, she got three A* and 10 A grades.

Talented Lucy is a member of Halifax Light Opera and Halifax Youth Theatre and will study drama, dance, English literature and history at Rastrick’s sixth form. She hopes to further her education at a performing arts school in London is two years time.

She said: “I feel really proud of myself. I was dreading opening my results but I’m thrilled.”

Headteacher Helen Lennie said: “We’re pleased this year’s GCSE students at Rastrick High School have continued to maintain our high standards – the five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C rate has increased once again”.

MATHS results helped Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School get its best GCSE results ever.

Students and staff at the school are celebrating after achieving top marks.

Head of School Helen Morgan said: “We are immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of students and we are delighted to see them getting the results that they deserve.

“We look forward to welcoming more students than ever back into our sixth form and wish all students every success in the future.

“Thank you to both staff and parents – their support has been pivotal in helping our students to achieve their potential.”

Students who performed exceptionally well include Daniel Smith who achieved five A* and six A grades, Sophie Magewick who with three A* and four A grades achieved the most amount of progress from Key Stage 2 and James Butterworth, who with two A* and three A grades was the highest over performer against national benchmarks.