Norfolk's future is looking brighter after the county's 16-year-olds took a giant leap forward in their GCSE results - and a Thetford School has been singled out as one of the top improvers.

Norfolk's future is looking brighter after the county's 16-year-olds took a giant leap forward in their GCSE results - and a Thetford School has been singled out as one of the top improvers.

Teachers and students at Rosemary Musker High School were celebrating on Thursday after posting one of Norfolk's biggest improvements.

Half of the 149 pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades compared to the 38pc of last year, which was the fourth year in succession that standards had improved.

Last year, the school found itself on the government's hit list for being below the national target of 30pc students gaining five-plus A*-C GCSEs including English and maths. Last year the school attained just 29pc - this year it soared to 45pc.

Headteacher John Lucas said the news topped a great year in which the school had achieved specialist technology status and a positive Ofsted report.

“It has been a very successful year and gives us a great platform upon which we can build for the future,” he said.

Across the county, superb efforts by thousands of young people helped Norfolk move to 59.9pc of students getting five-plus A*-C grades in any subjects - up 3.6pc from 56.3pc in 2007.

Fred Corbett, Norfolk County Council's deputy director of children's services, said: “These are record results for Norfolk and it is fantastic news that the county's performance at GCSE is continuing to improve.

“There have been significant improvements at many schools and outstanding results at some schools. Acle, Alderman Peel, City of Norwich School, Earlham, Rosemary Musker, Sheringham and Thorpe St Andrew have all seen at least a 10 percentage-point increase in the number of pupils achieving five A* to C, including English and maths. These schools have seen the huge efforts of staff and pupils pay dividends.”

However, at Charles Burrell High School, the number of students getting five or more A* to C grades fell from the 41pc of last year to 31pc.

Headteacher Nancy Robinson said she was still “delighted” with the school's second best GCSE results in its history, given the unusually high percentage of students with special needs and 18pc of students do not have English as their first language.

At Thetford Grammar School, students continued their 100pc A* to C record with 27pc of pupils getting A* grades.

Another record was broken at Methwold High School where 57pc of students got five or more A* to C (any subjects) compared to the 49pc of last year.

Across Norfolk, the number of students getting five good GCSEs including maths and English, improved from 45.2pc to 48.1pc. It means an extra 300 16-year-olds achieved the benchmark this time out.

The figures indicate a seismic shift for Norfolk, which has long lagged behind the national average.

In the last four years, there has been about a 10pc improvement in both measures, with 39.2pc getting five A*-C including English and maths in 2004, and 50.5pc getting five A*-Cs in any subjects.

CHARLES BURRELL HIGH SCHOOL, THETFORD

18pc (32) (22) (21)

31pc (41) (26) (25)

“We are delighted with our results this year, which are our second best in the history of the school. This is particularly pleasing given the unusually high percentage of students with special needs and 18pc of students do not have English as their first language. Our results demonstrate sustained improvement over the last seven years.”

- Headteacher Nancy Robinson.

COUNTY UPPER SCHOOL, BURY ST EDMUNDS

Not available (55) (45) (55)

79pc (73) (72) (73)

“I am absolutely delighted with these results which are the best in our history and I pay tribute to the staff, the students and their parents who have worked so hard as a team to achieve them.”

- Headteacher Vicky Neale.

CULFORD SCHOOL, BURY ST EDMUNDS

Not available (83) (89) (78)

99pc (92) (91) (83)

“These are an excellent set of results which are a real tribute to how much hard work pupils and teachers put into preparing for these examinations.”

- Director of studies John Guntrip.

DOWNHAM MARKET HIGH

50pc (51) (43) (43)

57.2pc (59) (56) (51)

“I am delighted with the performance of our students, who have achieved at a similar level to last year. There is an increase in the number of highest grades. These results are a vindication of the hard work of pupils and staff, and the support of parents.”

- Headteacher Ian Bloom.

LITCHAM HIGH

66pc (61) (59) (57)

77.2pc (75) (77) (71)

“We are very pleased. The students have worked very hard. They've had a difficult two years because of staffing problems but they have come through.”

- Headteacher Jeremy Nicholls.

METHWOLD HIGH SCHOOL

44pc (38) (34) (37)

57pc (49) (42) (52)

“These are our best ever results and a huge jump from last year. This year 11 group has been an absolute pleasure to teach and have been totally committed in their learning and the parents have more than ever before been involved in supporting the children through their revision.” - Headteacher Denise Walker.

MILDENHALL COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

33pc (47) (34) (35)

65pc (67) (65) (62)

“Although this was not at last year's record level, the results were at the highest end of expectations based on the ability of this year group. The results demonstrate considerable added value.”

- Headteacher Terry Lewis.

ROSEMARY MUSKER HIGH SCHOOL, THETFORD

45pc (29) (22) (23)

50pc (38) (29) (28)

“We are chuffed to bits that we have got our best GCSE results ever. It is the fourth year in succession that there has been an improvement at GCSE level at our school. This improvement is the result of extremely hard work on behalf of students, staff and the support of parents over the past few years”

- Headteacher John Lucas.

SACRED HEART CONVENT SCHOOL, SWAFFHAM

69pc (67) (82) (77)

100pc (83) (100) (90)

“We are delighted with the results this year. They are up on last year and are a fair reward for all the hard work put in by the pupils and the staff. Parents can justly be proud of their daughters' excellent results which will enable them to fulfil their potential in the next stage of their education.”

- Headteacher Diana Wynter.

ST BENEDICT'S UPPER SCHOOL, BURY ST EDMUNDS

Not available (73) (72) (73)

77pc (85) (82) (82)

“We are slightly down on last year's results but our students have met their target grades and we are delighted for them”

- Headteacher Paul Rossi.

THETFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

100pc (100) (97) (95)

100pc (100) (98) (100)

“Our year 11s are a very united and supportive group of young people. They work together effectively, which can be seen in our very pleasing results.”

- Headmaster Gareth Price.

WAYLAND HIGH, WATTON

37pc (44) (45) (38)

45pc (45) (50) (51)

“Overall our results were broadly in line with the targets we set for this year group. Students continue to score a high number of points indicating they are achieving higher grades.”

- Headteacher Michael Rose.

HAMOND'S HIGH SCHOOL, SWAFFHAM

43pc of pupils at achieved five or more A*-C grades, down 4pc on last year. Meanwhile 35pc achieved five or more A*-C grade passes, including English and maths. This again, was down 4pc on last year. However, headteacher Yvonne Srodzinski said the school was expecting more test results which could change the given percentages.