GCSE: 'I was surprised at how easy the papers were'

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John Skinner's observation was not exactly the most diplomatic of the morning but it quickly won agreement in the corridors of Rickmansworth school, in Hertfordshire's stockbroker belt, yesterday.

John, a dreadlocked pupil happily contemplating the prospect of studying music recording, suggested standards were slipping. At first he drew looks of scorn from his peers – but before long they were nodding their approval.

John, who gained eight C grades and two Bs, said: "I was surprised at how easy some of the papers were – they must have lowered the pass rates. It's all a con designed to make the Government's education policies look good.''

Rachel Snell and her friend Emily Groves, contemplating a bright future having collectively bagged ten A grades and comfortably achieved the minimum to study four A-levels, were in no mood to debate "grade inflation'' but admitted certain subjects, including geography and history, were easier than expected, while sciences were more difficult. Rachel said: "Overall, they were much easier than the mocks. It was a case of turning over the exam paper and thinking, 'Yes, I can do this'. It would be hard on the teachers not to give the school a lot of the credit.''

Nevertheless, the keen competition for places at the 1,200-pupil comprehensive school is likely to increase after this impressive set of GCSE results. Stephen Burton, the headmaster, remained remarkably nonchalant as he digested the latest statistics, which showed a fifth successive annual improvement – with the number of A-C passes among his pupils up to 86.5 per cent and well above the national average.

But to observers from the "O-level generation'' there was an air of unreality at the vast number of 16-year-olds shrieking with delight as they discovered better-than-expected grades. As one roofer doing repairs observed: "Everyone seems to be a winner these days. At least in my day you didn't have your mum ringing up the moment you opened your envelope.''

Many pupils were surprised they achieved the 45 points needed to move into the sixth form and had the unexpected choice between taking a vocational course at a nearby further education college or staying on at school for A-levels.