SPIRITS were high at local secondary schools across the borough this morning as students returned to collect their GCSE results.

Thurrock Nub News will be bringing you results from individual borough schools as they are announced but overall the moid in the borough reflects the national picture which shows the proportion of top grades surging to a record high after scores were based on teachers' estimates amid cancelled exams due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than one in four GCSE entries in England scored one of the three top grades this year, up from just over a fifth last summer, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.

Results were initially calculated using a controversial algorithm that was scrapped at the eleventh hour in favour of using grades submitted by teachers.

Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for education, Cllr Andrew Jefferies, said: "I would like to personally congratulate all our young people who are receiving their GCSE grades today and who received their A Level results last week, I wish you all every success for the future.

"Throughout months of uncertainty, young people in Thurrock continued to work extremely hard during this challenging academic year and everyone should be so proud of what they have achieved.

"I welcome the Government's decision to use teacher assessments in the grading of both GCSE and A Level results this year and encourage students to get support from their schools if they wish to appeal or look to improve their grades by sitting examinations in the autumn.

"I also encourage young people in the borough to get in touch with Inspire Youth Hub's Career Advisors who are available to provide free guidance and support for our young people about next steps in education, training and employment."

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For more information on Thurrock Youth Hub careers services visit www.thurrock.gov.uk/careers or phone the team on 01375 413 735.

Useful tips and guidance for those thinking about the next steps to take with jobs and careers are also available on the Thurrock Opportunities: Results Day 2020 website.

Cllr Bukky Okunade, shadow portfolio holder for children's services and education at Thurrock council said: "I congratulate all our students receiving their GCSE results today. It has been a difficult period for many, not least young people that have been the victim of pandemic and lockdown, when they effectively lost months of vital education, with the added stress of not knowing what their outcomes were going to be.

"My focus has always been on ensuring our students can reach their full potential, and their life chances are not impacted negatively, particularly due to the problematic circumstances of COVID-19 outbreak.

"It is helpful that the government decided to go with the predicted grades submitted by schools and abandon the "not fit for purpose" computer-generated grades which were initially issued to the A level students. I am pleased that the whole saga was drawn to a conclusion.

"The GCSE grades should hopefully go some way to assist in the next stages of our young people's lives, whether into a place of work or further education. I thank Thurrock schools, teachers and support workers for getting the students through this challenging time, and wish all our students a bright and progressive future."