THE percentage of Huntingdonshire pupils achieving top GCSE grades has dropped for the second year in succession.

Early results have seen a dip in the proportion of exam takers receiving five or more A* to Cs, including English and maths.

At St Ivo, the figure was down from 66% last year to 56.2%, while the fall in those gaining five or more A* to Cs was even more dramatic at 72.1 per cent, compared with 2012’s record-breaking 93 per cent.

The results at Sawtry Community College also failed to match the success of 2012.

Those achieving five-plus A* to Cs including English and maths was 60 per cent, while pupils getting more than five A* to Cs was 90 per cent. Last year the figures were 98 per cent and 65 per cent.

Overall, 40 per cent of pupils achieved at least 10 passes with 10 gaining at least 10 A* or As.

Deputy principal Nigel Smith said: “The college does appear, once again, to have been effected by national issues relating to the marking of core subjects.

“Science, ICT and mathematics continue to be real strengths at the college. The performance of some students has been nothing less than outstanding this year and we are really happy for them.

“We would like to congratulate all of the students and staff for their achievements this year and recognise the enormous effort they have put in to achieve these results.”

In St Neots, Longsands reported a similar picture, with the percentage for A* to Cs with English and maths falling from 63 per cent last year to 58 per cent this time.

Its overall A* to C results also fell, from 85 per cent to 75 per cent.

Among those bucking the trend were Reece Griffiths and Megan Evans, each with 11.5 A*s, and Hannah Betts, Eleanor Harrison, Makena Hemus, Rebecca Ho, Harry Silcock, James Thomas, Shona Fagan, who each had 10 or more A*s.